Strategically Building Relationships With Communities of Color

Strategically Building Relationships With Communities of Color

Oct. 25, 2005

By Reine Shiffman

Statistics have long foretold that the white male would eventually lose his position of dominance within the fundraising spectrum and, in preparation, articles such as this have focused on philanthropic trends among other populations. And for good reason.

In 2000, the Census Bureau projected that whites and groups of color overall would be roughly equal in size by the year 2050. Already, in New York City, nearly half the people ages 5 and older -- 48 percent -- speak a language other than English at home.

Author Paul Kivel addresses an issue he terms "the culture of power," which he asserts evolves when a large group creates an environment that places its members as the "norm." Although the group might not intentionally make others uneasy, it's a human reaction. When we are inside a culture of power, we expect to have things our way, the way with which we are most comfortable.

For years philanthropy has operated within a culture of power that focuses on the assets of affluent white donors. That's problematic, says Laura Loescher, co-founder of Changemakers, a foundation that promotes progressive, community-based philanthropy, in her article "Building Community-based Philanthropy": "If a community-based philanthropy is going to thrive and fully realize its potential, we are going to have to break down the real and imagined barriers keeping us from building alliances beyond our own comfortable circles."

This is not an insurmountable task; yet it will require both forethought and introspection. Here are 10 ways to help your organization -- and you -- move forward.

1. Identify ways your organization inadvertently might have erected barriers to communities of color. Place value on the different perspectives of all individuals, and promote the process for all to feel included.