Nonprofit HR’s Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Monday, August 7, 2023

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Nonprofit HR Unveils 2023 DEIJ Survey Results, Revealing Improvements, Challenges
Nonprofits make significant progress, but only 38% match the diversity of their communities 

Washington, D.C, August 7, 2023 – Nonprofit HR, a leading consulting firm dedicated to providin strategic human resources solutions to nonprofit organizations, is pleased to present the findings of its highly anticipated 2023 Nonprofit DEIJ Survey, showing both significant progress and key areas to improve. This comprehensive survey, conducted across the nonprofit sector, reveals commendable efforts in prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ). However, it also sheds light on challenges they still face, as well as some key shifts in strategy they must make in order to meet those challenges. 

The survey results show that nonprofits have made significant strides, with an impressive 79% of respondents indicating that their organization has prioritized diversity, 75% prioritizing inclusion and 74% prioritizing equity. Moreover, a substantial 89% of respondents believe that their company is making progress toward their DEIJ goals. Nevertheless, there is still a considerable way to go, as only 38% of organizations report having a staff that reflects the diversity of the communities they serve. 

One of the critical takeaways from the survey is the urgent need for a well-defined strategy, sufficient resources and a dedicated budget to achieve DEIJ objectives. Only 39% of respondents state that their organization has a formal DEIJ strategy in place. Furthermore, only 34% feel that their designated staff member responsible for DEIJ initiatives has access to the necessary resources. Similarly, just 38% of organizations have a formal budget allocated for DEIJ initiatives, and only 33% plan to increase that budget. 

Among the most significant challenges faced by nonprofits in improving DEIJ are attracting a diverse pool of candidates and fostering diversity within their senior leadership positions. A majority, 64% of respondents, express difficulty in attracting a diverse pool of candidates, while 60% struggle with promoting diversity in leadership roles. 

“What I find really, really interesting is, in our 2021 and 2022 data, objectives were more centered on just diversity,” said Antonio Cortes, PhD, Managing Director, EDIJ, at Nonprofit HR. “And as we look forward, organizations looking more broadly at diversity, equity, inclusion, and potentially, justice, as well. So, I think the scope of how we assess an organization’s functioning or commitment to the DEIJ is really expanding and has expanded over the last four-plus years. That’s a great thing.” 

To delve deeper into the survey findings, Nonprofit HR hosted a webinar on Thursday, July 20. Panelists included Antonio Cortes, PhD, Managing Director, EDIJ, and Bryan W. Jackson, MA, Senior Consultant, EDIJ, both from Nonprofit HR. A copy of the presentation slides can be accessed through this link. 

Moving forward, Nonprofit HR remains committed to supporting nonprofits in their DEIJ journey and partnering with them to develop robust strategies and allocate adequate resources to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces. Together, we can build a stronger and more united nonprofit sector that reflects the diverse communities it serves. 

About Nonprofit HR 

Nonprofit HR is the country’s leading and oldest firm focused exclusively on the talent management needs of the social sector, including nonprofits, associations, social enterprises and other mission-driven organizations. We focus our consulting efforts on the following practice areas: Strategy & Advisory, HR Outsourcing, Total Rewards, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Justice and Search. Nonprofit HR also offers customized learning and development in addition to research and events, all with the objective of strengthening the people management capacity of the workforce. Nonprofit HR was listed as one of the nation’s fastest-growing firms by Inc. 5000. Since 2000, our staff of credentialed experts has advanced the impact of some of the world’s most influential brands in the sector. A list of client and mission types may be seen here. Read more news from Nonprofit HR. 

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