Addressing key nonprofit issues in 2022
Welcome to the latest edition of Moving Forward, a newsletter designed to help nonprofits exchange ideas and learn from one another to unlock the full potential of the sector. For this edition, we caught up with Elisa Villanueva Beard , CEO of Teach For America (TFA), to discuss ways that nonprofits can respond to key issues and opportunities facing the sector right now.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are a priority for many organizations both within the nonprofit sector and beyond. What can nonprofits do to increase diversity at all levels of their organizations in 2022?
Nonprofits must continue to focus on building racially and ethnically diverse applicant pools, especially for leadership roles. I’m proud that Teach For America is one of the most diverse nonprofits in the country. Since 2014, more than half our staff and half our teaching corps identify as people of color.?
Improving diversity is a starting point and not an end. The pursuit of representation has to be grounded in racial equity. Grounding in racial equity means interrogating the policies, procedures, and practices that create the fabric of an organization and ensuring those systems promote belonging and the conditions for everyone to thrive. It transcends any metric—it gets to the heart of culture and the experience of those in and around an organization. At TFA, we’re on that journey.
How should nonprofits think about employee retention in light of the pandemic and the Great Reshuffle??
Of course the pandemic plays a role in current employment trends, but our sector also needs to look inward. The rise of corporate responsibility is important—but it also increases the competition for professionals seeking to make a social impact.?
Nonprofits need to offer something beyond our missions. That means developing the leadership of staff; communicating a clear, inspiring vision; and building connections so people feel seen, valued, and included. And we can’t forget to take care of ourselves and each other. Teach For America paused for three weeks this winter to honor the hard work of our remarkable staff, and I’ve seen us returning with renewed purpose and clarity. We also recognize the privilege we have to do this—extended rest should be a more widespread practice across all sectors.?
How important is it for nonprofits to improve their data literacy this year?
It’s always important for nonprofits to make data-informed decisions, centering on the voices of those they serve. Part of doing this well is constantly improving data accuracy and consistency. In the new Salesforce annual survey of nonprofits, 88% of respondents rated their organization’s evaluation performance and use of data as “excellent or good.” But only 22% of organizations actually met the bar for “high digital maturity,” which includes demonstrating advanced ability to leverage data to inform decision-making.?
One important improvement is to break down data into detailed subcategories. That allows more thoughtfulness in defining problems and pursuing solutions. At Teach For America, we capture data from the perspectives of corps members, alumni, and staff members, segmenting by any number of experiences and identities.
What is one area of opportunity that nonprofits can't afford to overlook in 2022?
For two years, we’ve all been forced to reckon with the uncertainty of the future. That has meant innovating, working in more agile ways, evaluating what we’ve learned, and taking informed risks to ensure we’re having the greatest impact. Whether or not the pandemic subsides, those actions can’t stop.?
At Teach For America, we’re focused on meeting students where they are academically, socially, and emotionally amid the pandemic. In response to our communities, we piloted the Ignite Fellowship, which provides tutors to accelerate students’ learning while strengthening their sense of belonging. As we expand the pilot, we hope to break down barriers for entry into teaching while ensuring our children have the high-quality support they need now.?
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What key focus areas is your organization tackling internally this year? Join the conversation by using the hashtag #MovingForward or sharing your thoughts in the comment section.
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Inclusive nonprofit strategic planning and governance that creates clarity, energy and justice. Speaker & writer. Director, CSUEB Nonprofit Management program. Leadership, racial equity and strategy. (She/Her)
2 年Thanks for sharing this interview. Some important insights, I especially appreciated this, "Improving diversity is a starting point and not an end.?The pursuit of representation has to be grounded in racial equity. Grounding in racial equity means interrogating the policies, procedures, and practices that create the fabric of an organization and ensuring those systems promote belonging and the conditions for everyone to thrive."