Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

 
 

Impact100 Essex’s DEI Action Committee was created in 2020 as an advisor and partner with leadership to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion are fully integrated in all aspects of our work.

We strive to:

  • Develop leaders and members reflecting the diversity of Essex County

  • Monitor our grants process, outreach to non-profits and member training and make recommendations to ensure all applicants receive equal consideration in the grant review process

  • Recognize and reduce bias in all Impact100 Essex processes and procedures

  • Introduce diversity, equity and inclusion training to membership with additional sessions for our leadership team

  • Improve communications to members about the unmet needs of the wider Essex County community

  • Consult with Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) non-profit leaders for guidance and learning

  • Look to local BIPOC providers for administrative and operational services

Membership: Including All Voices

We are committed to building a membership that reflects the diversity of Essex County and welcome members representing other dimensions of difference (e.g. LBGTQIA+ and people with disabilities). In 2021, we expanded our existing Every Voice Fellowship Program to amplify important, often under-heard, or missing voices from our community. Our Fellows have their membership partially subsidized by supplemental contributions from other members, which in turn enables those contributions to become part of our grantmaking pool of funds. We are especially interested in fellowship candidates from the nonprofit community, women of color, Latinas, and young women early in their careers. More information about the Fellowship program can be found on our Join or Renew page.

Grants: Expanding Our Reach

In 2021, we broadened our impact to include unrestricted mission-based grants to local nonprofits managed by BIPOC leaders in the name of increasing equity in grantmaking. These grants are separate from and in addition to our $100,000 Impact Grant. In 2024, we awarded a combined $50,000 to three nonprofits, bringing our total Equity Grant awards to $170,000 since 2021. Meet our 2024 Equity Grant Recipients HERE.

We are committed to understanding the role of systematic inequality and the role of implicit bias in evaluating grants.

Events: Deepening Our Perspective

We offer numerous events for our members focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. We listen to nonprofit voices in Essex County and leading women’s giving circles and spend time connecting and building community with other BIPOC Impact100 Essex members. Our events have included:

  • ‘Unconscious Bias’ with Kishshana Palmer

  • DEI Regional Roundtable with Metropolitan area Impact100 Affiliates

  • ‘On The Ground: Nonprofit Voices of Essex County’ panel discussion with our Impact Grant Finalists

  • ‘On the Ground: Voices from our Equity Grantees’

  • ‘The Power of Equity Grants - Perspectives from a Nonprofit Leader’

  • ‘Radical Generosity’ with Ana Oliveria, President and CEO, The New York Women’s Foundation

  • ‘Mingle for BIPOC Members’

Supporting Local Businesses

Impact100 Essex strives to patronize local businesses for our events and resources, particularly women- or BIPOC-run businesses. For more information on BIPOC-run businesses, check out this link.

Members interested in joining the DEI Committee, please contact DEI@impact100essex.org