Unpacking the “Why”

There are large disparities between the grant funding received by African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA) and White organizations. And, while funders are increasingly more aware of this gap, a challenge remains to gather accurate data around racial equity funding practices that illustrate a more detailed and accurate accounting of grantmaking efforts to advance racial equity. To address this, Grantmakers in the Arts is participating in the Racial Equity Coding Project, which was kicked off with a culmination of research led by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with Callahan Consulting for the Arts. The project has given funders an opportunity to examine and refine their own coding practices and to consider new data collection measures for the future.

Unpacking The “Why”: In this first episode, we are glad to be joined by Susan Feder, program officer, Arts and Culture, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Adam Fong, program officer, Performing Arts, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; and Maurine Knighton, program director, Arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. They discuss why the project started, their experience with the earliest iterations of the coding measures, and how their reflections will inform steps forward. Stay tuned for an opportunity to get involved!