Overcoming the Racial Bias in Funding: Breaking Down Barriers to Capital

In this Complimentary SSIR Live! Program, Participants Will:

• Review data that illustrates the magnitude of funding disparities in the social sector
• Become aware of the barriers leaders of color face in fundraising, and the effects such repeated interactions have on them
• Reflect on their role in both perpetuating and addressing funding disparities
• Learn concrete steps they can take to change practice and advance their own racial equity journeys

How large is the racial funding gap between white-leaders and leaders of color?

What are the most pervasive barriers to capital driving this disparity?

Within the nonprofit sector, there is increasing conversation about the racial biases that produce barriers to capital, leading funders to systemically overlook and undervalue solutions by leaders of color and produce racially inequitable funding flows in philanthropy. This inequity hinders organizations by and for people of color, as well the well-being of leaders of color—many of whom are the best positioned to drive social change for their organizations and the communities they serve. These barriers are compounded by strategies that are generally less familiar to funders (e.g. culturally competent or community-based approaches), which are often led by people of color. Dismantling systemic racism is critical to equity goals. It is therefore imperative that funding practices are revised to take account of inherent biases in order to enable funders to successfully achieve their goals.

In this complimentary SSIR Live! webinar, Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green, Jeff Bradach, managing partner and cofounder of The Bridgespan Group, and Kathryn Finney, founder and CEO of digitalundivided, will explore original research that identifies the major drivers of racial disparities in funding in the social sector. The presenters will discuss the racial funding gap and share their first-hand experiences about what has and has not worked, in addition to how their organizations have endeavored to improve their own practices.

[Please click here for more information and to register.]