Racial Equity Diversity, & Inclusion and Nonprofits
SVCN is on an intentional journey to build the values of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion into our agency's operations, shape how SVCN can be a champion for race equity, diversity, and inclusion as values for the nonprofit sector, and support CBOs on their own racial equity journeys.
SVCN's Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, + Inclusion
SVCN is committed to supporting racial equity, justice, inclusion, and the opportunity to thrive, for all. SVCN recognizes that existing systems of power give privilege and access to resources and lead to inequities, including race-based inequities, and oppression. This is true in nonprofit organizations as it is in other institutions. We commit to using diversity, equity, and inclusion values and practices in our business and to bring awareness of and capacity to embrace and effectuate those values in our nonprofit alliance. We also pledge to champion these values in public and private-sector arenas.
Our Understanding of Equity Terms
Diversity
Recognizing all the ways in which people differ, as individuals and as groups of people. Diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, physical appearance, and other ways in which people identify themselves. Individuals affiliate with multiple identities.
Equity
The fair treatment, access, opportunities, and advancement for all people. Improving equity requires increasing fairness within procedures and process of institutions or systems, and distribution of resources—both inside the organization and externally when engaging our diverse community of people and organizations.
Inclusion
The ongoing practice of creating environments in which any individual or group can feel welcomed, supported, valued, and respected, and given the opportunity to fully participate. Working toward inclusion requires our own recognition of ways in which we are engaging in implicit biases and microaggressions toward others, in order to address and eliminate them, thus removing barriers for others to feel included.*
*Based on Independent Sector, D5 Coalition, Racial Equity Tools Glossary, and UC Berkeley's DEI definitions.
SVCN's Racial Equity, Diversity, + Inclusion Vision
SVCN, together with our partner agencies Thrive Alliance & Center for Excellence in Nonprofits, will be a hub for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education, support, and practice, to support the nonprofit ecosystem in Silicon Valley.
We will do this by providing nonprofit staff and organizations opportunities to:
Engage in interactive and practical workshops that help organizations reflect their DEI values in their operations and activities
Share experiences and practices with nonprofit peers in the DEI space, in-person and digitally, in a safe environment
Attend curated presentations that can help nonprofit leadership arrive at a greater understanding of structural racism
Work with other sectors on DEI-related objectives
Connect with mentors and advisors who can help nonprofit leaders advance conversations and initiatives
Unite together to address systemic racism, discrimination, injustice, and inequity in our community
Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge
Join Us in Taking This Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge
A collective of nonprofits working towards racial justice brings to you, our nonprofit family, this Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge and ask for your organizations and for you to publicly endorse it.
Why are we asking you to endorse this pledge? Nonprofit leaders know and often witness firsthand that existing systems of power give privilege and access to resources which preserve and exacerbate racial inequities. Given that knowledge, the Silicon Valley nonprofit community has a special obligation to make a public, united commitment to support equity, justice, inclusion, and the opportunity to thrive, for all.
And although nonprofits pledge to work in service to the community, we often allow biases, exclusion, and inequities within our own organizations to go unchecked. So let's fix this, together. Let’s agree to embed values and practices of diversity, inclusion, and equity, in our organizations. We can commit to learn, embrace and effectuate those values in our everyday work. Furthermore, let’s pledge to champion these values in public and private-sector arenas.
In addition to signing on behalf your organization, please welcome your staff and Board to sign as well. Signing individually means that nonprofit staff are committed to working within their organizations to provide support and accountability towards the organizational promises, and also furthering an anti-racist culture within your organization.
This Pledge is important, but it is only the first step towards nonprofit Race Equity Action. The community of nonprofits that worked on this pledge invites you to join us in the next conversation about transforming this pledge into tangible action steps. SVCN, together with our partner Thrive in San Mateo County and CEN, will be there to support you. We have pledged to create a race equity, diversity, and inclusion resource hub to support nonprofits in their race equity journeys.