Giving Compass' Take:

• Stanford Social Innovation Review examines what the landscape of civil society will look like when racial demographics in the U.S. are more even, using California as a model for optimism and caution.

• The role of philanthropy in this sea change is discussed: Our we making sure the outreach to communities of color is robust? Are we doing enough to support civic engagement for all?

• Here's why investing in racial equity boosts long-term growth.

According to projections by the Census Bureau, the United States will become a “majority-minority” country by 2045, meaning that the proportion of non-Hispanic whites will dip below 50 percent, and no racial or ethnic group will be a numerical majority. What will this racial diversification mean for the future of American civil society?

Answering this question will require, at least in part, a deeper examination of racial dynamics in California. After all, California has experienced the kind of racial demographic shift over the last 40 years that the rest of the United States will experience over the next 40, with migration from Asia and Latin America fueling much of that change ...

We can derive three important lessons from California’s experiences with civil society in the context of racial diversification. First, demographic change need not lead inevitably to social exclusion and racially divisive politics — actions by political leaders and social movement actors can push toward mutual understanding and racial healing. Next, innovative philanthropy needs to bridge the divisions between those who promote civic empowerment and those who promote social entrepreneurship — each is incomplete without the other. Finally, the philanthropic community needs to significantly update its understanding of philanthropists of color, and dramatically increase its outreach to them. These interventions are important to ensuring a strong and vibrant civil society in the United States under conditions of significant racial diversification.

Read the full article about civil society in a majority-minority America by Karthick Ramakrishnan at Stanford Social Innovation Review.