Drawing on our more than 50 years of experience in advancement, we frequently partner to deliver workshops and presentations across the U.S. on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We start these sessions with the smooth and thought-provoking 1980 song “Where Did We Go Wrong” by L.T.D. featuring Jeffrey Osborne. This sets the stage for a candid conversation about the challenging landscape of DEIB within advancement.
There have been undeniable strides made in improving DEIB across higher education, and just as undeniably, there's more work to be done. Our student and alumni populations have become more diverse—yet the philanthropic engagement of alumni of diverse backgrounds by higher education institutions has not kept pace. This is one area where we have gone wrong.
The approach we’re advocating for in this article is that using DEIB for increasing philanthropy isn’t about pushing a political agenda, being “woke,” or endorsing political correctness. We’re explicitly making the case that DEIB is fundamental to the best practices of advancement.
If you focus on best practices, then leveraging DEIB is primarily a strategy to improve engagement and philanthropic investment from more alumni, particularly those of color who tend to be underrepresented as donors.
Communities of color hold untapped potential for higher education fundraising. The 2021 Diversity in Giving report from the Blackbaud Institute for Philanthropic Impact found that although donors of color express a willingness to give, they are solicited less frequently than white donors. Realizing their philanthropic potential requires fundraisers to abandon outdated, one-size-fits-all models in favor of strategies targeted to diverse donors.
As financial strains lead to college and university closures, philanthropy has become a more urgent vehicle to address current needs and long-term sustainability. Engaging diverse donors, therefore, is not just an ethical imperative but a strategic necessity to weather present storms and respond effectively to the dynamic higher education landscape. Simply put, engaging more people means raising more money—and integrating DEIB with advancement strategies is the key to getting it right.
Strategies to Turn the Tide
It is heartening to see the DEIB strides being made in advancement, as colleagues engage in awareness training within their ranks and make greater efforts to attract diverse individuals into the profession. To continue that work—and focus outward on the constituencies we wish to engage—consider the following strategies.
