New Article: Becoming Advocates for Equity

Posted by Stanford Social Innovation Review on December 19, 2023

The Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision highlighted a disconnect between the nonprofit sector’s intentions and its actions.

The Supreme Court’s June decision on affirmative action at US colleges and universities has raised profound concerns for the nonprofit sector. As the leader of Independent Sector, a national membership organization for nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs, I’ve heard questions from changemakers across the country about how this decision affects their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and whether it’s a precursor to other challenges to nonprofit and philanthropic missions. These new questions demand not only our attention but also our renewed commitment to publicly advocating for the values that underpin our work.

While the legal impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action was limited to higher education, it has already had ripple effects across the charitable sector. The decision has caused concerns about how we award scholarships and grants, and about how we collect and apply demographic data. It has also led some organizations and leaders to question their ongoing focus on work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Read more.