C06 Session: Inclusiveness and Nonprofit Effectiveness

Inclusiveness and Nonprofit Effectiveness: Creating Stronger Nonprofits through Diversity

Friday, August 4, 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Track:  Cultural Competency

Presenters

Lauren Casteel, The Denver Foundation; Katherine Pease, Katherine Pease Consulting

Description

More than ever, changing demographics and unresolved issues around race and ethnicity demand that U.S. nonprofits, if they wish to remain relevant and effective in achieving their missions, become more inclusive of people of color.  This session will focus on ways that consultants can work with nonprofit organizations to build inclusiveness.  Session attendees will first hear about this six-step method for building inclusive nonprofit organizations, and then will discuss how to be a resource for organizations interested in building inclusiveness.

Background
In 2001, The Denver Foundation began the Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative (ENII).  The mission of ENII is to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by helping them to become more inclusive of people of color.  ENII provides hands-on tools and speaking presentations, and has also published a workbook, Inclusiveness at Work, which serves as an interactive guide for nonprofit organizations interested in becoming more fully inclusive.  Technical assistance providers and consultants can also use this workbook as a guide.

Inclusiveness at Work includes a six-step model for building inclusiveness.  It was created over a two-year period, based on in-depth research of diversity and inclusiveness resources for nonprofit organizations, and included intensive peer review by almost thirty readers and nonprofit professionals, consultants, writers, and editors.  ENII unveiled Inclusiveness at Work at a metro-area wide conference co-hosted by ENII and the Community Resource Center attended by almost 300 people; the conference had a waiting list of over 100 individuals.  The Denver Foundation itself has gone through this process.  Now, ENII is taking this resource one step further by funding grants to nonprofit organizations to use this tool and conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the workbook and the link between inclusiveness and nonprofit effectiveness.  Further, we have found a substantial interest in inclusiveness in our community among nonprofit professionals and technical assistance providers. 

About the Presenters

Lauren Casteel, The Denver Foundation

Lauren Casteel has had a life-long passion for and commitment to inclusiveness and serves as the lead staff person of the Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative. With over fifteen years as a leader in the field of philanthropy, she has significant expertise related to nonprofit organizations. She has also hosted a local television show, served as the press secretary to former Denver mayor Federico Peña, and been an active volunteer and board member for several Denver-area nonprofit organizations.

Katherine Pease, Katherine Pease Consulting

Katherine Pease, the primary author of Inclusiveness at Work, served as the founding Executive Director of the Gill Foundation from 1995 - 2001. As an independent consultant, she has worked with organizations including foundations and nonprofit associations and organizations. A skilled speaker, Katherine frequently presents to large and small groups on topics ranging from race and ethnicity in nonprofit organizations to public/private partnerships.