Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the nonprofit sector

Welcome to the latest edition of Moving Forward, a newsletter designed to help nonprofits exchange ideas and learn from one another to unlock the full potential of the sector. In this edition, we caught up with Jeffrey Artis, President and CEO of Genesys Works, to discuss ways that nonprofits can make meaningful progress toward their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. 

Genesys Works’ mission is to create pathways to career success for youth from underserved communities. What impact has the pandemic had on these communities and the opportunities they have access to? 

The pandemic has only exacerbated inequities, making it much more difficult for young adults from underserved communities to access the resources and meaningful work experiences that lead to a thriving wage and sustained economic mobility. 

At the same time, the pandemic has also provided our young professionals the opportunity to show the value they add to companies. Young adults are digital natives and are more comfortable engaging in virtual environments, making it much easier to pivot to working remotely. Working remotely also eliminates the need for transportation and long commutes that can hinder access to jobs. 

What steps can nonprofits take to diversify their own networks and recruit more untapped talent? 

One of the first steps nonprofits should take is to clearly define their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals and measurements for success to guide their efforts in making their organization more inclusive and attractive to top talent.  

It goes without saying that to recruit diverse talent, you must meet them where they are. Nonprofits should actively target sources of talent that primarily serve people of color and encourage their diverse staff to tap into their networks to refer their peers.

Additionally, nonprofits have the unique opportunity to recruit directly from the communities they serve. Former program participants are an invaluable source of talent. 

Like for-profit companies, nonprofits should also consider launching internship programs geared toward onboarding, training, and growth, which ensures untapped talent have a direct pipeline to the recruitment process.

At some organizations, there isn't a lack of diversity at the entry-level, but there is in the C-suite. What actions would you recommend nonprofits take to rectify this and make leadership opportunities more equitable?

One approach is to create pathways to leadership. For example, this year, we will be launching an Enablement Hub at Genesys Works. A key component of this strategic initiative is to offer employees opportunities to upskill and continuously improve their practice.

By investing in best-in-class professional development, we ensure our people have the training and internal pathways to leadership.

Building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations take time and intentional effort. What advice would you give to any organization feeling like progress is slow?

A genuine approach to DEI should touch every aspect of your organization, including your mission, vision, and values. Thus, it will take time. 

To ensure that you don’t lose momentum, consider conducting regular evaluations of your initiatives to make sure they are effective. And, most importantly, celebrate successes. 

What actions has your organization found most effective in advancing your DEI efforts? Join the conversation by using the hashtag #MovingForward or sharing your thoughts in the comment section.

• Indian nonprofit Vision Rescue posts a video message from a supporter, digital content creator and travel blogger Renuka Walter, who uses her platform to spread the word about the organization’s work.

• Katie Alcott, Founder and CEO of Frank Water, shares a post highlighting the impact that apprentices have had at the organization and the value of offering these opportunities to help people take the first step in their careers.

• Quincy Tse, Director of APAC at StarCompliance and Co-Founder of the education nonprofit REACH, discusses the intersection of poverty and education outcomes in Hong Kong, and how REACH is working to bridge the inequality gap.

• Making Entry-Level Nonprofit Jobs Truly Entry Level: When job descriptions for “entry-level” roles ask for years of experience, it can create a barrier to entry for untapped and overlooked communities. Discover steps your nonprofit can take to avoid losing out on high-potential talent. 
• Why We Should Rethink Credit Checks for Job Candidates: In this recent article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy, two foundation leaders discuss why credit cheks in the hiring process can hurt organizations’ DEI efforts and cause them to miss out on great talent.
• The Importance of Talking About — and Collecting Data on — Race to Improve Racial Equity: Cathleen Clerkin, Candid’s Senior Director of Research, discusses the importance of intentional language around race in addressing systemic inequity.

We want to hear from you! Click here to refer a nonprofit professional you admire and whose insights you'd love to read. And if there's a particular topic that's top of mind for your organization right now, let us know and we may highlight it in a future edition.