JustPhilanthropy.orgpresents six Pathways to Progress, synthesized from our inquiries of the past several months. These pathways have been developed to help move closer to racial equity and social justice philanthropy. For each pathway we present several benchmark practices, benchmarks for noticing progress, examples of good practice from the field, and resources for practitioners. 

Pathways to Progress

Preparing the organization

Organizations must act with clarity, focus and vigor, both internally and in their interactions with others.

Building trust

The terms social justice and racial equity often trigger emotional reactions which can get in the way of making progress; we have to learn to get beyond that.

Crafting and advancing solutions that can repair unfair and unjust systems and markets

Repairs to broken systems and markets have to be made, but first we have to "look upstream" to find the sources of unfairness and the inspiration for fixes. 

Strengthening relationships, networks and leadership

The power of relationships, networks, and leadership has to be harnessed to implement more fair and unjust solutions that work for all.

Increasing philanthropic resources time, talent and treasure

For philanthropy to effect progress, more philanthropic resources devoted specifically to closing gaps in equity are needed.

Putting it all together to fix the problem and close disparities

For philanthropic organizations to close gaps they should work on all the pathways, especially in combination, and stay focused on the challenge of reducing gaps.

Our emerging theory of action

With increased action on any one pathway, one can expect increased progress.  With increased action on these pathways in combination, one can expect even more progress.  With increased action on these pathways with a focus on closing gaps and disparities, one can expect the most progress.  These pathways, we believe, contain the DNA for constructive social change. 

Benchmarks of progress

If the goal is to reduce a key equity gap in an arena you or your organization cares about, you are making progress when you see signs that:

• you are more prepared and ready than before to take on this task;
• you are better able to sustain a conversation about justice and equity;
• you are more actively engaged in crafting or advancing solutions that can help close that gap;
• you are in the business of strengthening relationships, networks, and leadership that can mobilize people, resources, and solutions;
• you are finding, gathering, and managing more time, talent, and treasure that can be directed to efforts that could close that gap;
• you are more focused on fixing one of the systems or markets that produces gaps, and more engaged in using the various pathways and practices suggested on this site.

These benchmarks are broken down further on each of the Pathways pages.

 

This page updated 13 January 2010.