Redefining Philanthropy: An Executive

Redefining Philanthropy: An Executive’s Guide to Creating Equitable Change from the Inside Out

Tyran Hill | 2021

Abstract

The Covid-19 global pandemic and the many social justice uprisings observed over the past almost two years have increasingly shed light on systemic and institutional powers that disadvantage specific populations while benefiting others. As a knee-jerk response, many boards and leaders immediately tapped into their best public relations resources to create carefully crafted statements condemning institutional injustices while generally supporting proposed reform efforts. The disparate impact of these unprecedented times does not tell a story of a new phenomenon unobserved in the past. Instead, it applies a magnifying glass to centuries worth of underlying issues in need of higher regard and evaluation to develop corrective measures rooted in equity by every definition.

Over the past decade, research has revealed that minorities are not equally represented within different levels of participating organizations or across organizations in the philanthropic sector. The alarming statistics from recent data and other systemic practices used to strategically disadvantage people and communities of color further underscore the need for philanthropic institutions to reassess all of their policies and strategies internally and externally. As a result, many leaders find themselves stuck searching for strategies to “right the ship” with very little training or resources to assist along the way. To address this immediate gap and support leaders for long-term change, this publication positions leadership coaching as the vessel for creating the internal and external changes needed to address organizational culture and design in philanthropic institutions.

The book is intentionally written in two parts. The first part focuses on establishing a baseline understanding of the knowledge required before implementing change initiatives within your institution. The second incorporates more practical steps to creating meaningful change while highlighting how leadership coaching services can benefit white and people of color-led institutions. This work can look different for various foundation structures, whether community, public or private. However, one thing is certain. The intentionality of working to create more inclusive institutions is necessary for any philanthropic institution seeking to thrive during current times and in the future.