Resources
Explore the tools, case studies and external resources that are included in, or were consulted in the creation of, the Equity Continuum Toolkit. Use the filters or search function below to find specific resources.
Case Study
Bush Foundation
Program & activities, Operations, Culture
The Foundation seeks to approach with transparency and humility: ”As we work toward being more equitable in our work at the Foundation, we plan to publicly share our successes and setbacks in hope we can be useful to others.
Case Study
Blue Engine
Mission & Vision, Theory of change, Organization & Operations
As a five-year-old organization, Blue Engine entered a yearlong strategic re-visioning process, the start of an ongoing process to evaluate and elevate the role of equity and inclusion—within both the organization and the classroom.
Case Study
Central Valley Community Foundation
Theory of change, Governance
CVCF’s current equity journey began in 2018, when a group of community and civic leaders gathered for a roundtable with The Kresge Foundation to discuss how the local economy impacted Fresno residents.
Case Study
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Mission & vision, Program & activities, Evaluation & learning, Operations, Governance
Since 2007, CFGB has increased its focus on racial equity, both in terms of its externally-facing work and its internal operations. In partnership with local organizations spanning business, nonprofits, government, and philanthropy, CFGB co-founded the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable (GBRER) in 2015. The GBRER takes a collaborative, multi-sector approach to advancing racial equity in the region.
Case Study
East Bay Community Foundation
Theory of change, Program & activities
Beginning in 2019, the East Bay Community Foundation revised its mission and strategy to focus more on equity and modify its programmatic priorities, restructuring the foundation’s financial, social and human capital to better support communities in need.
Case Study
Haas Business School, Center for Social Sector Leadership
Governance
In 2021, CSSL began to assess its work through a racial equity lens, using PEG’s Equity Continuum as a tool.
Case Study
Low Income Investment Fund
Mission & vision, Theory of change, Operations, Evaluation & learning
Beginning in 2019, the East Bay Community Foundation revised its mission and strategy to focus more on equity and modify its programmatic priorities, restructuring the foundation’s financial, social and human capital to better support communities in need.
Case Study
Mathematica
Program & activities, Operations, Culture
Over the course of the company’s equity journey, a number of initiatives have increased diverse representation among staff, and ensured that research projects and services are viewed through an equity lens. Continuing to expand its DEI commitment, Mathematica is embarking on a multi-year strategic DEI plan led by Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Dawnavan Davis and her team, intended to grow both the internal foundation and the external reach of the company’s commitment to equity.
Case Study
Meyer Memorial Trust
Program & activities, Operations
In 2016, Meyer began to strategically reassess its grantmaking, economics, and internal operations to better reflect an organizational commitment to a “flourishing and equitable Oregon”.
Case Study
Reading Partners
Mission & vision, Culture
Reading Partners’ equity journey has been influenced by the students it serves, over 90% of whom are children of color. As such, the organization aims to contribute to the national movement for educational equity by incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion into all areas of its work.
Case Study
Summer Search
Programs & activities, Evaluation & learning, Culture
Racial equity has always been an essential driver of Summer Search’s work. Summer Search sees its program as “supporting students in navigating the systemic barriers to success so they can achieve economic equity and a life of purpose.” However, in assessing its programming, Summer Search realized that students and staff did not always feel comfortable or supported, especially when it came to issues of race and identity.
Case Study
Teach for America
Operations, Culture
TFA’s focus on racial equity has grown in recent years, reflected especially in the increased diversity of its teaching corps. The push to diversify the teaching corps was driven by a desire to better reflect the diversity of TFA’s students, and by research showing that teacher diversity contributed to improved student achievement.
Case Study
The Bridgespan Group
Mission & vision, Theory of change, Program & activities, Operations, Culture
Bridgespan has developed a racial-equity strategy with four intersecting pillars to guide its work and approach to DEI, in addition to publishing articles on equity issues. In advancing this strategy, Bridgespan is not only working on diversity, equity and inclusion within its own ranks but is also helping clients examine these considerations in their own structures and practices.
Case Study
The California Endowment
Theory of change, Operations, Evaluation & learning
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.
Case Study
The Colorado Health Foundation
Theory of change, Programs & activities, Evaluation & learning
The Colorado Health Foundation’s equity journey began primarily in 2011 when it transitioned from a public charity to a private foundation and began to examine its strategies for funding and issuing grants. Between 2011 and 2016, the Foundation underwent strategic shifts in how it funded and issued grants, and transitioned from public-charity to private-foundation status.
Case Study
The Denver Foundation
Mission & Vision, Program & activities, Organization & Operations, Culture
TDF’s equity focus has grown in the subsequent years, culminating in their most recent strategic plan (2021), which centers racial equity as the organization’s north star.
Case Study
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Mission & vision, Programs & activities, Operations, Governance, Culture
As of 2019, Milwaukee was the most racially segregated metro area in the US, with Black residents making half the median income of white residents. In recognition of these disparities and the systemic biases that underlie them, GMF made a “generational commitment” to advancing racial equity and inclusion, setting racial equity as the organization’s “north star”.
Case Study
The San Francisco Foundation
Mission & vision, Theory of change, Program & activities, Operations, Culture
In 2016, faced with extreme levels of inequity in the Bay Area, TSFF set a new strategy with racial and economic equity at its core. This strategy was called People, Place, Power.
Case Study
Youth Speaks
Mission & vision, Programs & activities, Operations, Governance
In 2018, new executive director Cristy Johnston Limon embarked on a journey to center diversity, equity, and inclusion in Youth Speaks’ work. While the organization had always primarily served young people of color, the leadership of the organization was mostly white, which created a disconnect between executive-level decision making and community needs. Limon led a holistic review of Youth Speaks’ values, structure, programming and impact, reshaping the organization around principles of equity.
Tool
Programs & activities - Foundations - Equity Continuum Toolkit
Programs & activities
Tool
Evaluation & learning - Foundations - Equity Continuum Toolkit
Evaluation & learning
Tool
Programs & activities - Nonprofit - Equity Continuum Toolkit
Programs & activities
Tool
Evaluation & learning - Nonprofit - Equity Continuum Toolkit
Evaluation & learning
ADDITIONAL READING
A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power and Privilege
Mission & vision
ADDITIONAL READING
Ten Ways for Community Foundations to Consider Diversity and Inclusive Practices
Mission & vision
ADDITIONAL READING
Advancing the Mission: Tools for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Mission & vision
ADDITIONAL READING
Building on a Better Foundation: A Toolkit for Creating an Inclusive Grantmaking Organization
Operations
ADDITIONAL READING
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment, Hiring and Retention
Operations
ADDITIONAL READING
Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism, and Racial Justice
Operations
