2. PSOs’ Role in Advancing Racial Equity: What’s Happening & What’s Next
David Maurrasse, Ph.D., Founder & President, Marga Incorporated
Tamara Copeland, President & CEO, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers

3. Forum’s 2018 Racial Equity Scan Report Racial Equity and Philanthropy-Serving Organizations (PSOs)
What: Conduct racial equity scan on Forum’s diverse network of PSOs
Goal: Gain insights into racial equity work of Forum’s members and other PSOs
Purpose: Guide Forum’s work in helping members address racial equity in their own organizations and with members

4. The Respondents
Scan reflects input of 43 regional & national PSOs (25 regional PSOs; 18 national PSOs).
53% response rate from Forum’s members
20% response rate from non-member PSOs
Nearly all survey respondents asked to be interviewed
Add’l interviews with 5 national PSOs where racial equity is core to mission

5. Why PSOs Initiated Racial Equity Work?
Key drivers and catalysts
Recent uprising and the aftermath of shooting of unarmed Black men & boys
The 2016 election
Following the trend: Racial equity increasingly discussed in philanthropy
Who initiated the programming?
PSO staff (in most cases)
PSO members (in some instances)

6. Survey Responses: Key Themes & Highlights
Activity within the membership
43% define their work as “just beginning”; 51% have been working on it for a longer time
43% define work in racial equity frame; 35% in DEI frame
Over 170 speakers and trainers identified: Could help PSOs help their members make progress
Resources utilized by various PSOs come from other PSOs further along in their work

7. Survey Responses: Key Themes & Highlights
Work underway
Programming: A key entry point for many PSOs
38% have board committee/task force/advisory group on racial equity or DEI
32% have strategies or strategic framework to guide their work
30% have peer learning groups for their members

8. Survey Responses: Key Themes & Highlights
What facilitates progress
Building a shared language & point of view between staff, board, and members
Helpful to start work with structural racism
Can’t “rush” staff, board members to a place where they are not
Make racial equity relevant to members’ priorities

9. Survey Responses: Key Themes & Highlights
PSOs’ biggest gaps & needs to advance racial equity
Need for guiding frameworks and professional development on internal practices and with members on racial equity
Need for additional financial resources to support racial equity work
Need for further engagement with board members
Need for a stronger power analysis, especially around boards and investments

10. Additional Insights
PSOs eager to continue or start the work. Less diverse foundations are a bit more hesitant (difficulty with the board, sensitivity with the terminology, struggle with the starting point, etc.)
“Committed cluster” phenomenon: Even among seasoned practitioners of racial equity programming, greatest dedication rests with a highly committed cluster – how to move beyond them?
Case studies: Nearly all respondents alluded to a request for PSO case studies or conversations with experienced funders, particularly on how to ‘influence up’ to level of trustees and presidents

11. Recommendations Develop resource directory of racial equity resources
Establish peer-learning spaces for members
Provide opportunities for Forum members deeply engaged in racial equity work to showcase their efforts
Work with existing consultants/trainers/speakers to develop customized technical assistance for PSOs
Continue to emphasize racial equity at Forum conferences
Build capacity for PSOs to engage their boards
Leverage use of webinars
Develop case studies
Develop longer range format to define and refine Forum’s leadership on racial equity

12. Forum Report Now Available Advancing Racial Equity in Philanthropy: A Scan of Philanthropy-Serving Organizations
Access on the conference app
Access on Forum’s website at:

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