Giving Compass' Take:

Robert Harris discusses the significance of diversifying philanthropic networks and the necessary steps to make that happen in donor circles.

What steps can you take to diversify your philanthropic networks?

Read more about why diversity and inclusion make for powerful philanthropy.


Homophily is the tendency for individuals to connect to and network with people who are similar to them. We learned in the course that giving circles are an example of homophily in action. Individual giving circles generally include members of a certain race, gender, age, religion, or ethnicity.

“In a national probability sample, only 8 percent of adults with networks a size of two or more mention having a person of another race with whom they ‘discuss important matters.’ ” (McPherson, 2001)

In the summer of 2017, I was asked to lead a strategic planning session for a partnership in a city in South Carolina. The city’s population is equally split between whites and African-Americans. Not lost on me, standing in the front of this room of educators and local partners numbering more than 40 people, only four African-Americans in the community were selected to take part in the planning.

There are challenges philanthropy students and professionals can accept, in the spirit of that definition, to break through homophily:

  • Take time to learn about the passions of your colleagues, from them;
  • Review who are the stakeholders in your work, consider if they are all represented in discussions and planning;
  • Remember philanthropy comes from philanthropos “love of mankind;” as heated as discussions have become in recent years, philanthropic professionals work from love and ultimately for the inclusion of all.

Read the full article about diversifying your philanthropy networks by Robert Harris at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.