The Surdna Foundation recently published, “Social Justice at the Surdna Foundation,” which outlines our commitment to social justice. This has required difficult and ongoing conversations, a broad understanding of long-term systemic change, and acknowledgement that the work will never be "done."

Here are a few highlights from the report:

Our theory of change asserts the importance of building power and supporting leadership in marginalized and underserved populations. If we are to achieve true equity, fairness, and justice, all people must have equal access to necessary resources and opportunities.

To accomplish our goal, we invest in organizations that work to dismantle persistent patterns of inequality and transform the systems and institutions that perpetuate injustice, especially in communities of color and low-income communities.

Working in this space, we constantly ask ourselves tough questions about power and wrestle with our institutional privilege. We strive to be thoughtful listeners motivated not merely by one-off opportunities, but by long-term sustainable impact.

Surdna’s mission emphasizes a cross-issue approach that considers multiple social and economic factors alongside environmental degradation and disinvestment in low-income communities and communities of color. Our analysis directly addresses the roles played by place, race, economics, culture, and the environment, and we do whatever we can to ensure that our grant investments operate in alignment. Following these practices has made us a smarter, more effective, and more adaptable funder.

Read the full article about social justice at the Surdna Foundation at National Center for Family Philanthropy.