Giving Compass' Take:

• The Council on Foundations Career Pathways Program serves as a leadership tool to help philanthropists and senior foundation staff focus on equity. 

• Conferences like this are important for philanthropists to candid discussions about equity in the sector. How do you connect with other donors?

• Read the Bridgespan Group's take on how to build equity in philanthropy. 

I believe that it is pretty well understood in the sector that we have an imperative in foundation offices and board rooms to ensure our decisions and behaviors are guided by and lift up the people in the communities we serve. However, foundation leaders continue to grapple with taking appropriate and sustained action toward promoting equity, particularly dealing with racism and power both inside and outside their organizations.

I applied to the Council on Foundations’ Career Pathways program to strengthen my skills in leading in this space. My hope was to both expand my peer network of senior leaders dedicated to promoting equity as well as to deepen my understanding of how I should and could be showing up at my foundation and in my community differently.

Oftentimes, foundation leaders can feel isolated, pulled between grantees and program beneficiaries, community partners, colleagues and peers, and boards. The Career Pathways program has been special for me in that it creates space for reflection (which is extremely difficult to carve out during my work day) and reminds me that I am never alone.

Graciously hosted by the Skillman Foundation, the cohort recently met in Detroit, Michigan for the third of four meetings. This session focused on organizational leadership. Early on, each was asked to figuratively invite an influencer in our lives into the room. Specifically, we recognized that healthy organizational culture—and leadership’s influence on values and behaviors—is a precursor for achieving the equitable outcomes we seek through our foundations’ programs and investments.

Experts and executive leaders within philanthropy led curated, candid conversations addressing what C-suite executives should know about foundation functions; leading with an equity lens; developing internal talent and leadership, particularly for staff of color and women; working with a board; and acknowledging and holding in check the privilege and power that come with leading a foundation.

Read the full article about achieving leadership and equity by Chris Crothers at Council on Foundations