Username:
Password:
Members: Forgot Username/Password?
Click Here Not a member? Click here to see what's inside!
Alliance for Nonprofit Management
1899 L Street NW 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20036

t 202 955 8406
f 202 721 0086

info@allianceonline.org

Cultural Competency Initiative

CCI logo         

Learn more about the Initiative's

Institute

                      

"In our fast changing society, it is impossible for nonprofits to be fully effective if they fail to include, value and benefit from the diversity of their communities, staff, and boards.  To do this well requires continuous learning on the part of capacity builders and the nonprofits they serve." 

Tangie Newborn
Alliance Executive Director and CEO

 

One vital component for nonprofits to be effective is to realize their missions and understand each other culturally – individually and at the level of organizations, initiatives and communities.  Cultural competency is a critical path to effectively guide the social and financial capital of nonprofits, given the deep divides that currently characterize our society.

Alliance for Nonprofit Management recognized this need and developed the Alliance Cultural Competency Initiative (CCI).  Through support to the capacity builders, the CCI will transform today's nonprofit leadership and workforce toward embracing diversity and creating vibrant, inclusive communities and a just society.

 

What is CCI?

The Alliance Cultural Competency Initiative (CCI) is building the knowledge, skill and will of nonprofit capacity builders to intentionally focus on culture in their work that strengthens nonprofit leadership and organizational effectiveness. 

The CCI builds the capacity of those who provide training, consulting and other resources to nonprofits.  Working in areas such as fundraising, strategic planning or board development, capacity builders gain skills though the CCI to help nonprofits advance diversity and multiculturalism in:  staff and boards, policies, programs, stakeholder engagement, and communities served.

Cultural competency includes but is not limited to:

    • Race/ethnicity
    • Age or generation
    • Language
    • Religion/spirituality
    • Political viewpoint
    • Legal status
  • Socio-economic status
  • Gender identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Disability
  • Geographic base

 

Why Is CCI Important?

         

McKinley

"The leadership of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations have not kept pace with the dramatic cultural change in the world around us.  To some extent, the tools we are using are like typewriters in a world of Internet cultural competence.  As a field, we must become more deliberate about our preparation for the future."

– Ron McKinley, Executive Director, National Network of Grantmakers

If working effectively across cultures were easy, CCI would not be needed.  The truth is, multiculturalism is difficult to address and is seldom prioritized by nonprofit organizations.  Yet, our society's growing diversity and simultaneous growing inequality require urgent attention by nonprofits to achieving equity within their own organizations and in the communities they serve.

 

What is the Impact on the Nonprofit Sector?


Alliance for Nonprofit Management has more than 1,000 members who provide capacity-building support to nonprofit organizations.  Our members reach more than 250,000 nonprofits each year in their consulting, training, grantmaking, research and publishing.

By incorporating cultural competency into the fabric of the capacity building field, the CCI will reach thousands of nonprofits to help them be inclusive, equitable and effective.

The initial focus of the CCI is on race/ethnicity and intersections with other aspects of cultural identity.  The CCI will then expand to focus more broadly on cultural dynamics related to age, gender, sexual orientation, geography and other areas.  Learn more...


How is CCI Funded?


The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Citigroup Foundation, and The UPS Foundation have continued their commitment to diversity and have taken the lead with the Alliance in building a more culturally competent nonprofit society.  With these foundations’ generous grant support, the Cultural Competency Initiative takes a deeper look into enhancing the quality of life, creating equal access to necessary resources and promoting community partnerships resulting in strategic and progressive social change.

Alliance for Nonprofit Management invites other corporations and foundations to join these leaders in building this vital Initiative.  The strategic financial support from the CCI’s funders demonstrates strong commitment to diversity.  It ensures the necessary means for increasing opportunities to strengthen nonprofit leadership by advancing the knowledge, incentive and practice of cultural competency.  Changes are being made in the funding, training, consulting and dissemination activities that nonprofit capacity builders already generate – working with tens of thousands of nonprofit leaders each year.

We are sure you will agree that the ultimate goal of the CCI is to advance the nonprofit capacity building field, catalyzing extraordinary nonprofit leadership and sparking larger social change.  For more sponsorship information, please contact Alliance Executive Director Tangie Newborn at (202) 955-8406 or tangie@allianceonline.org.