The historic implications of the 2008 presidential election will resonate for years to come. While those implications can be debated, there is one obvious truth that cannot be argued regardless of which political party one supports. America is growing more diverse and the face of the country is changing.
When every paper in the country, including a bastion of tradition, the Wall Street Journal, runs stories touting the power of multi-cultural voting blocks from Hispanics to African Americans to Native Americans, you don’t need a statistician to tell you that a new era in America is upon us.
Nonprofit organizations have seen this cultural shift coming for a long time. They know that if they do not become more inclusive, they will no longer be able to serve changing communities. Many of them have already taken important steps to become more diverse. But some lack the tools and resources to undertake this cultural shift on their own.
Several years ago, The Denver Foundation began to examine what it would take to help nonprofits become more representative of the communities they serve, and more responsive to the needs of those communities. We brought together an impressive group of community leaders and asked them important questions. Most of all, we listened to their feedback.
What we learned was that it takes more than just adding people of color to a staff or a board of directors. It requires more than just delivering services in a variety of languages. It means moving beyond diversity, and building truly inclusive organizations. That understanding was the genesis for a new program called the Inclusiveness Project, a comprehensive approach designed to help build inclusive nonprofits.
As Adrienne Mansanares, who oversees the Inclusiveness Project for the Denver Foundation, says, “Inclusiveness isn’t just a having diverse membership, staff and board. Nonprofits need to integrate the perspectives and viewpoints of diverse communities in the design and implementation of their programs. Inclusive organizations are diverse at all levels.”
We determined that inclusive organizations tend to have several fundamental characteristics:
They are aware of cultural nuances and they use that awareness to plan and implement programs.
They understand that the same message can sound different to different people and that it is important to communicate in a culturally relevant way.
They have internal systems to bridge cultural gaps and ensure that all voices are listened to and respected.
They are self-aware. They understand that in a diverse world, conflict is natural but they do their best to anticipate, manage and resolve conflict.
Their leaders are open to change and honest dialogue.
Initially, we awarded grants to a handful of Metro Denver organizations that have now completed a two-year pilot program. The results have been impressive.
“In the year and a half since we began the Inclusiveness Project, we have seen a $250,000 positive impact on our organization,” said Mike Johnson, executive director of Denver-based Project PAVE, an organization that helps children and teens who have been affected by violence. “We are stronger now and more connected to our community. Becoming a truly inclusive organization will help us stay healthy and serve more people.”
Creating an inclusive workplace is good for business. Research shows that inclusiveness can lead to:
Higher job satisfaction and lower turnover, especially among people of color;
Higher productivity and better employee morale;
Improved problem solving, creativity and innovation;
Increased organizational flexibility and ability to learn at all levels;
Better recruitment and retention;
Deceased vulnerability to legal challenges.
On November 18, the Denver Foundation is taking the program to the next level by making the Inclusiveness Project available to more Denver Metro nonprofits. With the launch of a new dynamic and information-rich Web site , more organizations can now not only access the tools and resources they need to meet the needs of our changing communities, but also connect with others developing inclusive practices.
As we reflect back on the historic election we have just witnessed, nonprofit executives understand that becoming inclusive offers more than just intangible benefits. It can make a crucial difference to organizations struggling to overcome the challenges they face in these tough economic times.
Lauren Casteel is the Vice President of Philanthropic Partnerships for The Denver Foundation. Reach her at: lcasteel@denverfoundation.org
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
