Closing the Gaps in Racial Equity and Social Justice

• The Challenge
• Promising Practices
• Benchmarks

The data are consistent: increasing racial equity and strengthening social justice remain challenges to our society.  Data consistently show disparities or gaps in how well our society’s systems and markets performs. Study after study shows how our public systems and private markets yield very different results for different racial and ethnic groups. Helping organizations address these disparities, producing more equitable results for all, is a legitimate goal for philanthropy.

Barriers to progress include:

• These gaps or disparities are everywhere, in all walks of life, all regions of the country, and in all public systems and private markets that regulate good outcomes in these arenas:

• Education
• Income and Wealth Development
• Housing, Infrastructure and Amenities
• Health
• Justice
• Dignity and Respect
• Civic Participation

• These gaps are maintained by complex forces. Some arise from geographical placement, where rural areas are less favored than urban. Others are the result of weighty cultural and historical forces. Still others reflect unequal protection and unequal treatment.
• The data are so consistent, the disparities so chronic, the shame and hurt around them so great they can be discussed only with difficulty, that overcoming these factors became, in this inquiry, “ pathways to progress.”

• Too many philanthropic organizations (that is, their leadership) aren’t well prepared or positioned to play a useful role.
• The subject of justice and equity is inflamed by feelings of hurt, shame, or helplessness, such that too often it is ignored, resisted, or set aside as low priority.
• Promising solutions that stand a chance of “moving the needle” if they saw the light of day and given the opportunity to gain support are instead allowed to wither on the vine.
• The connections, networks, and leadership needed to bridge divides and move effective solutions to fruition aren’t well enough supported.
• Philanthropic resources directed to this issue are insufficient, given the magnitude of the challenge.
• Maintaining one’s philanthropic focus on disparities reduction requires strategy, discipline, and patience – all in short supply in the philanthropic community.

Fortunately, there are practices that address these barriers; investing in them, one at a time and in combination, is exactly what philanthropy can do to make a difference, to move the needle and level the playing field. Some gaps are more conducive to change than others. Good reconnaissance within the community will help you assess the potential for creating change.

Click on Promising Practices to see how these challenges are being addressed.

This page updated 11 August 2008