CASE STUDY
The California Endowment
TCE has conducted DEI audits in 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2016, leading the organization to introduce a set of core organizational values and north-star goals focused on inclusivity.
Theory of change, Operations, Evaluation & learning
Background
The California Endowment (TCE) began its work in 1996, after Blue Cross of California acquired a for-profit subsidiary called WellPoint Health Network. Today TCE is California’s largest private health foundation with over $3 billion in assets. Its mission is to “expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians.” Since it began, TCE has issued over 22,000 grants worth more than $2.9 billion to community-based organizations in California, with a focus on “fixing broken systems and outdated policies, ensuring the balance of power is with the people.” More specific focus areas include health systems; inclusive community development; justice reinvestment; power infrastructure; and schools.
The equity journey
Committed to diversity since its founding in 1996, the Endowment’s equity journey has evolved from its decision in the late 2000s to audit progress toward its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) values. In particular, TCE is determined to eliminate health disparities that reflect the oppression and inclusion endemic to marginalized communities. In 2008, the Endowment adopted a Diversity Plan that included 15 targeted goals to advance the organization’s vision of diversity, equity and inclusion. TCE has conducted DEI audits in 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2016, leading the organization to introduce a set of core organizational values and north-star goals focused on inclusivity.
Theory of change
The Endowment developed a “Framework of Institutional Supports for Advancing DEI” that guides its efforts to achieve its DEI goals and draws from literature on organizational changes critical for the sustainable implementation of diversity principles. This framework focuses on 1) shared vision; 2) an authorizing environment; 3) organizational policies and processes; and 4) staff practice. In addition, according to the 2017 DEI Audit Report, TCE’s board approved $100 million in program-related investments with explicit DEI language, and made the decision to not invest in companies profiting from the prison industry.
Operations
The Endowment developed a “Framework of Institutional Supports for Advancing DEI” that guides its efforts to achieve its DEI goals and draws from literature on organizational changes critical for the sustainable implementation of diversity principles. This framework focuses on 1) shared vision; 2) an authorizing environment; 3) organizational policies and processes; and 4) staff practice. In addition, according to the 2017 DEI Audit Report, TCE’s board approved $100 million in program-related investments with explicit DEI language, and made the decision to not invest in companies profiting from the prison industry.
Evaluation & learning
In 2008, the Endowment created a series of 15 diversity, equity and inclusion goals, updating those goals every three years to ensure that they were constantly on track to promote DEI within the organization. TCE audits measure progress toward meeting the goals every few years, with the latest DEI Audit Report dating from 2017, based largely on surveys and interviews conducted with staff and board members. This report measures 1) the current demographic diversity of staff, the board of directors, and grantees, and how this has changed over time; 2) progress toward meeting the 13 current DEI goals (with progress ranging from “holding the line” to “excellent”); and 3) institutional supports and barriers to DEI. For each goal, the audit details a list of activities undertaken since the last audit, a researcher evaluation of the level of progress made, and a list of considerations for future improvement. As of 2016, TCE had made considerable progress toward roughly half of its stated goals.
Related case studies
Tell your equity story
We would like to hear about progress your organization has made on its equity journey.
