Giving Compass' Take:

• Marc Schultz offers outreach strategies for fostering inclusivity and equity in building a grantmaking committee.

• Why is it so critical to assemble a grantmaking committee that represents the communities it serves? What are you doing to evaluate and improve upon the inclusivity of your grantmaking committee?

• Read about one foundation's strategies for participatory grantmaking and systematic change.

To Drive Equity in grantmaking, those we serve – and those we aspire to serve – need a seat at the table where decisions are made. An external review committee that’s diverse, inclusive, and influential drives grantmaking decisions that are both more equitable and better informed as to the issues, and the solutions, under consideration.

As a grantmaking professional, committee-building may not yet be in your (ever-expanding) repertoire. That’s why PEAK put together the member-exclusive guide How to Recruit and Onboard Diverse and Inclusive Grant Committees, along with How to Facilitate Inclusive Meetings for hands-on meeting management guidance.

In order to be successful, your recruitment efforts in underserved communities must be deliberate, precise, and authentic.

Though research shows that under-resourced community members give significant time to the causes they care about, recruiting them for work with grantmakers or nonprofits they are unfamiliar with, or do not trust, can be a challenge. The top barriers to volunteering cited by participants in a study by The Denver Foundation include the fear of being used as a token, the pressure of being asked to represent a certain viewpoint, not feeling connected to the organization, and economic hardship.

Some of the outreach strategies to consider, particularly for overcoming those barriers:

  • Poll other foundations, grantees, and other stakeholders to learn about people of color who lead local nonprofits, businesses, or movements.
  • Communicate the time commitment up front and in writing, as well as what you can offer volunteers in exchange for their time.
  • Pick up the phone and invite individuals you’ve identified as potential participants. Talk to them about your foundation’s priorities, process, and why you believe their input is integral to the impact you seek to affect.

Read the full article about building an equitable grantmaking committee by Marc Schultz at PEAK Grantmaking.