Fund the People, a national campaign to maximize investment in the nonprofit workforce, recently launched Talent Justice, a new initiative focused on helping funders and nonprofits invest in advancing equity in our workforce. The Talent Justice Toolkit features resources outlining specific strategies to support this work.  

The initiative is supported in part by The Kresge Foundation; both the foundation and Ford Foundation are represented on the campaign’s advisory council.

We’re taking a closer look at the Talent Justice Report: Investing in Equity in the Nonprofit Workforce and the key takeaways for funders.

Highlights from the report:

• Overall, low paying entry level jobs in the sector was cited as a barrier by 57 percent of younger workers ages 22 to 37.

• 84 percent of nonprofits and foundations that responded to the survey said competitive salaries and benefits are needed for entry-level nonprofit jobs. About 41 percent of foundations that participated in the survey said they provide funding to grantees for these purposes.

• People of color have reported more barriers and unique challenges to advancement in the sector. The study found that 59 percent of people of color said entry level jobs not paying well was a barrier to entering the nonprofit workforce. About 40 percent of people of color surveyed said lacking connections was a barrier.

• About 81 percent of foundation staff cited paid internships or fellowships as a best practice for supporting equitable and inclusive access to the field.

• Informal mentorships, leadership training and development and access to networking opportunities were the top three supports for career advancement in the sector as cited by people of color.

The report provides a deeper dive into the barriers facing people of color, women, young people and immigrants in the nonprofit sector. The report calls for greater investment by foundations and nonprofits in racial justice and equity in their organizational culture and workforce.

Recommendations at a glance:

• Improve compensation for early-career professionals and across the nonprofit career lifecycle.

• Design fair apprenticeship experiences through targeted recruitment and fair compensation.

• Challenge white dominant cultural norms by developing organizational cultures that value diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Invest in diverse talent through wide and inclusive search processes. The report shares that “foundations can partner with grantees to create a pipeline of diverse leaders by forming relationships with rising talent at grantee organizations.”

Talent Justice provides a road map for funders on these recommendations and more in their toolkit.

Want more?

Read the full report.

CMF is currently accepting applications for our mentoring program. Learn more in this issue of the Weekly Download.