Exponent Philanthropy recently launched, Mind the Gap: Exploring the Role of Diversity and Racial Equity in Leanly Staffed Foundations. To develop this publication, we talked with members about how their foundations incorporate racial equity into their work. We learned a lot from these one-on-one conversations. And hearing members talk to each other about racial equity work was even more enlightening!

Marsha Davis is executive director of the Tzedek Social Justice Fund in North Carolina. It distributes money, resources and power to support systems change and community healing around racial justice, LGBTQ justice, and combating antisemitism. David Greco is executive director of All-Stars Helping Kids in California. It funds emerging nonprofits that focus on access to education, career readiness and health and wellness.

We feature All-Stars Helping Kids and the Tzedek Social Justice Fund in Mind the Gap. Here are highlights from their conversation.

Make your racial equity work intentional

Both Marsha and David said their organizations have supported underrepresented communities for some time. But only recently have they moved to take an intentional approach to racial equity. An intentional approach can shift your perspective from what your grantees are doing to what your organization is doing internally.

Share your power

Both Marsha and David emphasized that promoting racial equity isn’t simply adding more diverse people to your board and staff – it is also about sharing more of your organization’s power.

Relationships are key

Building strong relationships is key to engaging in racial equity work.

Funders are sometimes scared to start their racial equity journeys. By focusing on building strong relationships with your grantees and community, you are more likely to get grace when you make a mistake, as well as help and advice on how to improve and grow.

Read the full article about incorporating racial equity by Afia Amobeaa-Sakyi Brendan McCormick at Exponent philanthropy.