CHANGE Philanthropy recently released its second edition of the Diversity Among Philanthropic Professionals (DAPP) Report that provides a look into the diversity of our sector’s workforce in 2020. 

We’re highlighting the report’s key findings, recommendations and resources. 

In 2020, CHANGE Philanthropy conducted their second DAPP Survey that collected anonymous responses from individuals on the staff and board of participating foundations aimed to help grantmakers accurately assess the culture and climate of their foundations. 

According to the report, 2,390 individuals from 124 foundations participated in the survey

The DAPP report can be used as a tool for philanthropy to identify trends, gaps and opportunities for improvement in diversity and inclusionary practices in the sector. 

Key findings from the DAPP report:

Racial and ethnic diversity increased among staff and board members at participating foundations compared to survey findings in 2018. 

•    Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) accounted for 45.3% of the staff and board at the participating foundations, an increase from 37.8% in the 2018 DAPP survey. 

•    There was the greatest representation of BIPOC staff and board members at public foundations (50.4%) and the least at community foundations (29%), similar to 2018 findings.

•    In the Midwest region, 35.4% of the staff and board at participating foundations identified as BIPOC. 

There was a decline in individuals from participating foundations who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and asexual. 

•    The survey found that lesbian, gay, bisexual and asexual individuals accounted for 13.6% of the staff and board at participating foundations, a decline from 16.2% in 2018.

•    According to the report, this decline could be attributable to a new survey option to choose, “My sexual orientation is not listed here,” which 6.6% of the respondents selected.

•    In the Midwest region, 11.7% of respondents identified as lesbian, gay bisexual, asexual or a different sexual orientation. 

Among the participating foundations across the country, a majority of staff and board identify as female. There was a slight increase in individuals who identify as gender non-conforming, genderqueer and non-binary. 

•    68.1% of individuals identified as female, compared to 69.1% in 2018. 

•    27.7% of individuals identified as male, compared to 28.2% in 2018.

•    2.3% of individuals identified as gender non-conforming, genderqueer and non-binary, which doubled from 1.1% in 2018. 

•    1.5% of individuals identified as transgender, a decrease from 2% in 2018.

•    In the Midwest region, 71.1% identified as female, 25.6% male and 1.1% as gender non-conforming, genderqueer and non-binary and .2% identified as transgender. 

A majority of individuals who participated in the survey were over the age of 30, with a decline in individuals in their 20s and under compared to 2018 data. 

•    8.5% of individuals that responded were in their 20s and under, compared to 10.5% in 2018.

•    24.3% were in their 30s compared to 25.1% in 2018.

•    26.8% were in their 40s compared to 25.3% in 2018.

•    21.6% were in their 50s compared to 21.3% in 2018. The rest of the respondents were in their 60s and older. 

The number of individuals working in philanthropy who identified as a person with a disability doubled in 2020: The 2020 DAPP found that 12.6% of people working in philanthropy identified as a person with a disability, compared to 6.3% in 2018.

•    In the Midwest region, people with a disability made up 7.8% of the respondents.

•    Across various staff roles, people with disabilities were most represented in program staff (15.1%).

The 2020 DAPP survey found that more people working in philanthropy were born outside of the United States (12.3%) compared to 2018 (10.3%).

•    More people born outside of the United States were represented at corporate foundations (17.1%) compared to other foundation types.

•    In the Midwest region, 5.4% of those working in philanthropy were born outside of the United States. 

The 2020 DAPP Survey introduced questions about religious affiliation; a majority of respondents identified as Christian. 

•    36.6% identified as Christian and 22.1% identified as spiritual but not religious. 

Recommendations

The report offered eight recommendations for foundations who want to further diversify their staff.

•    Examine your motivations and commitment to a diverse organization.

•    Explicitly commit to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) values and efforts.

•    Engage in an ongoing process of auditing and adjusting your own DEI policies and practices.

•    Adjust your human resources policies to support a diverse workforce, such as ensuring that your benefits package provides adequate leave time, supportive of a diverse range of family configurations and makes appropriate accommodations for people with differing abilities.

•    Align your institution’s non-discrimination policies with current best practices.

•    Advance learning opportunities for your staff and board to continually improve on DEI.

•    Engage in specific outreach to communities of color, LGBTQ communities, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities in your recruitment for staff roles, board positions and committee opportunities.

•    Adopt retention strategies to assure that a diverse range of employees feel supported and affirmed in bringing their full selves to work.

The report also highlights a variety of resources from CHANGE Philanthropy’s coalition partners including Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), ABFE, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP), Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Native Americans in Philanthropy and more. 

Want more?

Download the full report.