DEI is DEAD, Long Live Human Rights: The Opportunity for Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector

American advocates of social justice and equity are grieving the sudden and unexpected death of DEI, diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Such programs have been largely eliminated across government, business and the nonprofit sector, and many of their once vocal advocates intimidated into silence. Unfortunately, DEI’s demise doesn’t mean that America’s efforts to provide equal rights and opportunities to all regardless of race, ethnicity and gender has been achieved. Quite the contrary, there is ample evidence that America is moving backwards in this regard.

Understanding how and why DEI died is essential to helping ensure that the next strategy to promote equal opportunity does not meet a similar fate. This also has important global implications because how America views and responds to economic inequality at home has a powerful influence on how its public, private and nonprofit institutions think about and act on these issues abroad. Adopting a human rights framework may provide a pathway for philanthropy and the nonprofit sector to continue advocating and funding efforts to avoid the negative public perceptions of DEI while advancing economic opportunity for all.

We are honored to welcome Dr. Emmett D. Carson as our featured speaker. A social innovator, Carson has helped create new institutions, programs and research in the pursuit of a more equitable society. He was the first COO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founding CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation. He has authored seminal research on African American giving and philanthropy. His graduate and undergraduate degrees are from Princeton University and Morehouse College, respectively.