Foundation and nonprofit leaders voice support for program to collect diversity data from nonprofits at scale
On October 16, 2014, Green 2.0 announced a groundbreaking collaboration with GuideStar and the D5 Coalition to gather diversity data in a standardized way across the non-profit sector. Green 2.0 will partner to highlight the participation of environmental organizations. On December 9th at the “Breaking the Green Ceiling” Forum hosted by Green 2.0 and New America Media, it was announced that several of the nation’s leading green groups have pledged to submit their diversity data. Organizations can pledge to submit their diversity data by February 2015 by following the link below.
Sector Leaders
To continue to build a strong and just environmental movement, it is critical that we improve diversity among its leaders. I commend the organizations and foundations that have committed to openness and transparency on diversity and submitted their diversity data. However, it is troubling that some Green organizations and the foundations that support them have not taken this initial step towards a more diverse sector. Diversifying Green organizations and foundations will make them more effective in addressing current and future environmental challenges. The Green movement and the country’s people of color deserve nothing less.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva
U.S. Congressman (D-AZ), Ranking Member on the Natural Resources Committee
Foundation Statements
The California Endowment is thrilled to participate in and support this sector-wide effort in philanthropy. A more robust future for our nation will require greater attention to the inclusion of diverse leaders and stakeholders in addressing an array of important civic challenges.
Robert K. Ross
President and CEO, The California Endowment
The Hewlett Foundation is pleased to make our diversity data available as part of our commitment to transparency and openness in the philanthropic sector. By contributing to this effort led by Green 2.0, GuideStar, and D5, we hope to help establish a baseline of information from environmental funders and NGOs that better informs the important work of building more inclusive organizations and strengthening our collective impact.
Larry Kramer
President, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
As an organization rooted in the pursuit of social justice we know how critical the diversity of our staff and board is, both in representation and perspective. Recognizing and achieving this goal can be two separate matters and we have work to be done. We must recognize and celebrate diversity as a strength in all that we do and I am pleased to join this effort by D5, Green 2.0 and GuideStar to bring transparency and urgency to this front. Stepping forward as a sector to address where we can improve on matters of diversity will allow us to learn from one another and improve our organizations.
Darren Walker
President, Ford Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s journey toward racial equity, diversity and inclusion has extended over decades. We applaud this sector-wide effort and fully believe that tracking and sharing data is essential to gauge our progress, correct our course as necessary and to remain true to our vision and goals for this work. That’s why for the past decade, we have measured and reported our workforce composition and employee and trustee demographics to our external website and actively work with grantees to collect data, demographics and plans for engaging diverse communities in their work.
La June Montgomery Tabron
President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The Bullitt Foundation recognizes the urgent need to genuinely diversify the mainstream movement, not with symbols and tokens but by making it relevant to all people. Bullitt has benefitted greatly from a diverse staff and board, and our program accomplishments have been shaped by that involvement. The first Earth Day in 1970, of which I was the principal national organizer, embraced inner city groups fighting freeways that were poised to crush their neighborhoods and farm workers who were suffering nerve damage from the pesticides being sprayed over their heads. Rats were an environmental issue, as was lead paint. At its birth, the environmental movement was a big tent, welcoming to all who shared its basic commitment to a healthy, resilient, equitable, peaceful future. We need to return to those roots. The BullittFoundation was quick to embrace the chance to participate in this groundbreaking initiative by Green 2.0, GuideStar and D5 to track data at scale, and we strongly encourage our peers to join as well. We are all most likely to improve the things that we measure.
Denis Hayes
President, Bullitt Foundation
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund supports the collaboration between D5 and GuideStar to facilitate standardized and widely accessible organizational reporting of staff and leadership diversity information through the GuideStar Exchange. In the wake of recently documented diversity challenges in the environmental sector, we are pleased as well to see the partnership with Green 2.0 to encourage participation from the mainstream environmental movement. This is an important step forward to build better transparency and understanding about diversity across the nonprofit sector.
“The Fund has long been committed to sharing diversity data on its staff, leadership, and operations, including related information on our website and annual publication, Charting Our Progress, since 2008. As a funder we believe it is important to understand both the diversity of the organizations we fund and how they engage diverse perspectives in their work.
“We are excited to participate in the GuideStar Exchange effort and encourage others to do so. This builds on the work of many organizations over the past few years, and we are particularly appreciative of the efforts of GuideStar, D5, and Green 2.0 to make this happen. Shared data furthers the possibility of shared understanding and progress across all of our efforts as we support a nonprofit sector that responds to the demographic realities of our nation.
Stephen Heintz
President , Rockefeller Brothers Fund
The Kresge Foundation has long believed that nonprofit organizations are more effective in achieving their missions when their board and staff members are reflective of the populations they serve. For many years we have required that grantseekers provide us with information concerning the demographic characteristics of their board and staff, and we have inquired about grantees’ diversity practices.
“We endorse this effort form GuideStar, D5 and Green 2.0 to gather information about demographic data and diversity practices of nonprofit organizations and foundations, and the special focus on the environmental sector given the recently documented diversity challenges. We think it will be helpful for the sector to employ standard reporting metrics. It will allow for comparisons across organizations and, hopefully, simplify the reporting process for participating organizations.
“Kresge will encourage all of its grantees to participate in this voluntary data-collection effort by GuideStar, D5 and Green 2.0.
Rip Rapson
President and CEO, Kresge Foundation
“Diverse leadership is critical to the success of any organization, and I applaud Green 2.0’s efforts to facilitate an open and honest dialogue on this important issue among green organizations. Climate change affects everyone and together we must leverage a diverse, inclusive coalition to take urgent action and build the advanced energy future our children deserve.
Tom Steyer
Investor, Philanthropist and Advanced Energy Advocate