Why Create an Equity Framework
Understanding That Equity
is already implicit in our existing approach to community impact gives United Way a solid foundation on which to deepen and strengthen equity as a process and an outcome. Equity then becomes part of the DNA of who we are and how we work with communities to create positive change. However, making equity an explicit part of our impact efforts is the task before us, and will require grappling with key aspects of how we work.
Some Of These Challenges Include…
Maintaining universal goals (e.g. improve early grade reading rates for all students in the community) to be inclusive of everyone, while explicitly integrating goals focused on closing existing gaps and disparities (e.g. close the gaps in reading proficiency between white/Asian students and African American/ Hispanic students by ten percentage points)
Balancing direct services that touch the lives of individuals and can alleviate the effects of discrimination, lack of opportunity with systemic approaches that address the root cause (e.g. implementing programs that help low-income families manage their finances and advocating for wage increases, especially in employment sectors that disproportionately employ low-income of color)
Engaging new donors of color who are more likely to support United Ways that are working on the issues relevant to their communities, while maintaining donors who may not prioritize, or even understand the need to advance equity
Creating or increasing awareness in communities that may not be comfortable talking about race, gender and/or class, or know how to engage on these issues
Understanding that equity is already implicit in our existing approach to community impact gives United Way a solid foundation on which to deepen and strengthen equity as a process and an outcome. Equity then becomes part of the DNA of who we are and how we work with communities to create positive change.
