If you are a donor, what does ‘bridging diversity’ mean?
Even though philanthropic giving is an individual contributing their own assets to a charity, listening to others is an essential part of the philanthropic process. The perspectives of communities and people with direct experience are especially important as their views are often overlooked. It is only by listening that donors can make sure giving meets real needs and serves whole communities.
This is why diversity, in all its forms, is so important to good philanthropy.
In 2023, we launched a report looking at the nature of diversity among donors. We looked at how they use their funding to support change in their communities and wider society.
Working with our partners at Clearview Research, we found there is a disconnect between the philanthropy and fundraising sectors and donors from diverse communities. Donors from different communities and faith backgrounds have an uncomfortable relationship with traditional philanthropy.
When it comes to their own giving, they bring their identity and lived-experience to the organisations and causes they support. They feel the infrastructure for giving does not enable them to achieve their goals.
The report poses 10 questions for the philanthropy and fundraising sectors to consider how they could make their approach more inclusive to donors from different traditions of giving and different communities.
Bridging diversity in British giving: Engaging donors from diverse giving communities
Author(s)
The Beacon Collaborative
Year
2023
Here are a few resources that look at different dimensions of diversity in giving:
Click here to listen to an excerpt from our interview with Jake, Joe and Dilhani from the Baobab Foundation on their work to place Black and minoritised ethnic organisation at the centre of their funding approach.