Our Vision: The Community Foundation is a philanthropic catalyst for positive change, strategically and intentionally engaging donors and partners to address the common good, while transforming our region into a better place for all.
In accordance with our vision statement, the Community Foundation stands for diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. As a Community Foundation, equity and justice are part of our core values. We encourage you to engage in conversation about these topics respectfully, so we can learn and grow together.
Please note: The views and opinions expressed in the articles below are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Chester County Community Foundation.
“We have made progress together for our communities, but invisibility remains one of our [Asian American and Pacific Islanders’] greatest barriers to investment and action.” – Chronicle of Philanthropy
ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI) RACISM DURING COVID
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an rapid rise in racism and discrimination again Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
A study by the Center for the Student of Hate & Extremism determined that while overall hate crimes decreased by 7% in 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes rose by nearly 150%.
And according to Stop AAPI Hate, Pennsylvania was included in the top five states where anti-Asian hate incidents have occurred in 2020 and 2021.
“Philanthropy is commendable, but it should not allow the philanthropist to overlook the economic injustice which makes philanthropy necessary.” – MLK
As explained by the National Center for Family Philanthropy, philanthropists must have “a deeper openness and commitment to fully understand history and our role as perpetrators of injustice, whether we realize it or not.”
“When pursued strategically, philanthropy and advocacy are like two sides of the same coin. Their practitioners both take action in service of needed social change, seeking to realize visions of a better world, and it’s rare that either set can achieve the goals it seeks without the other.”
Nonprofit Quarterly urges philanthropists to “understand that our specific programmatic interventions and strategies must serve a larger collective vision. Our struggle is mutual—and our liberation is mutual.”
FUND ORGANIZATIONS LED BY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES
Philanthropists must consciously work to allocate funding to organizations led by communities of color.
“Many grant makers try to take a colorblind approach to reviewing grants as a well-meaning effort to advance equity. But that is actually the crux of the problem.”
The Chronicle of Philanthropy explains: “Race is one of the most reliable predictors of life expectancy, academic achievement, income, wealth, physical and mental health, maternal mortality, and so much else that make a difference for a person to achieve well-being. Donors who care about supporting social change must take more deliberate action to achieve racial equity.”
“Looking ahead to 2021, philanthropy will need to address the funding gap—the amount of funding available for organizations supporting women and girls— and the equity gap—the amount of funding available for organizations supporting women and girls of color, and those facing other intersectional disadvantages.”
Funders must continue the patterns of grantmaking that emerged during the COVID-19 crisis: increased funding, more flexibility, and funding for advocacy.
MacKenzie Scott, an emerging leader in the philanthropy world, is changing the landscape of charitable giving. “By disbursing her money quickly and without much hoopla, Ms. Scott has pushed the focus away from the giver and onto the nonprofits she is trying to help. They are the types of organizations — historically Black colleges and universities, community colleges and groups that hand out food and pay off medical debts — that often fly beneath the radar of major foundations.”
CREATE SOLUTIONS WITH THE GUIDANCE OF DIVERSE LEADERS
The National Center for Family Philanthropy encourages philanthropists to create solutions with the guidance of those who have experience with racial inequality.
“Crises demand urgent and swift action. However, moving fast can mean relying on established relationships, tight networks, and top-down decision-making. As a result, leaders of color who have inequitable access to the philanthropic community can be barred entry, and solutions may be crafted without the guidance from the lived experience of those closest to the problem.”
“When responding to urgent need, funders need to pause and consider how their own biases and funding practices may perpetuate inequities, and exacerbate the very problems they aspire to alleviate.”
In an interview with The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Kerrien Suarez, Executive Director of Equity in the Center urges philanthropists to not only release statements about racial equality but transform those statement into concrete action.
“The question going forward from here is, what will they do in the days ahead to live into those values? Because as of today, the overwhelming majority of organizations that released statements with those words in it do not have a culture where the black people who work there feel that they are valued as equal to white people.”
Diversity has many facets including race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic status, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, and other ideologies.
We have broken down a few areas of focus to foster an inclusive resource guide for the community:
RACIAL & ETHNIC JUSTICE
Following the wake of COVID-19, the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many other unarmed Black men, women, and children to name have caused a global uprising against racial discrimination and inequality. The organizations listed below are fighting for racial equity in Chester County.
While there has been significant progress for gender equality over the decades, many obstacles remain that limit opportunities for women. Women disproportionally experience sexual violence, workplace discrimination, and limited access to fundamental healthcare services including reproductive rights. The organizations listed below provide resources, support, and opportunities for women in Chester County.
Many people face daily discrimination based on their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. Whether we have been victims or perpetrators of gender and sexual discrimination, the organizations listed below can provide a greater understanding of and support to overcome this type of oppression.
CLICK HERE for a list of key terms and concepts in understanding gender diversity and sexual orientation.
FAITH-BASED JUSTICE
We are lucky to live in a country that recognizes and respects our religious freedom. Even so, many people face discrimination based on how they pray, who they pray to, or due to their lack of formal religious beliefs. The organizations listed below provide resources and guidance to help us all overcome religious discrimination.
Here is a list of consultants who have been referred to the Chester County Community Foundation for diversity, equity, and inclusion training. Consultants who specialize in arts and culture nonprofits are highlighted yellow.
To add or edit consultants to this list, please email Jamison Ludgate at jamison@chescocf.org.
