The racial reckoning of 2020 layered with the Covid-19 crisis has put new and much-needed emphasis on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. According to The 2020 Porter Novelli Executive Purpose Study, 76 percent of executives acknowledge the role of business in perpetuating systemic racial inequality and are committing to action now more than ever. To achieve that action, these C-suite executives are turning to their corporate social responsibility and social impact teams for answers to the questions, “What are we doing to advance DEI issues?” and “How can we achieve a greater impact?”

One often-overlooked area where bias and discrimination can lurk if you’re not vigilant is your company’s internal processes, including standard applications for scholarships and grants. If your corporate social impact programs involve these types of applications, use the checklist on the next page to ensure your process embeds equity into every step.

Ensuring an Equitable Review Process

  • Choose representative reviewers. As you build the review team, ask yourself:
    • Do your reviewers reflect the population you serve?
    • Is there enough diversity to make sure you’re seeing all perspectives?
    • Do you need representation from individuals outside your industry or field?
  • Lean on technology to help remove potential bias. Your grant management platform should be able to help you facilitate a more unbiased review process, including features like hiding demographic data and randomizing reviewer assignments.
  • Clearly define criteria. As you review your evaluation criteria, don’t leave room for interpretation. Provide your reviewers with a detailed definition of each criterion, so they’re reading each application through the same lens.
  • Be transparent. 

Read the full article about equity checklist from WizeHive at PEAK Grantmaking.