Nonprofits often serve diverse communities and clients, but are unsure of how well or how to best fulfill those needs. Diversity often brings in value systems and expectations that are overlooked in general strategic planning. Yet an agency that is serving the elderly, for example, may well find that its African American population is different from its Hispanic or Caucasian clients, while an agency that serves to educate needs to reach its older clients through different means and messages than its younger base.
Without a full understanding of what the different client segments represent and how to address their diverse needs, an agency will not be successful. In fact, without a full understanding of the diversity that is within the community and the clients that are dependent on an organization, that nonprofit could cause more harm than good by creating unnecessary conflicts.
MNC understands the need to tie mission and diversity together. We can help in a number of ways, including:
- Assessments and surveys of community opinions and client needs
- Creating mission statements grounded in diversity thinking
- Developing diversification strategies for agencies that need to broaden their outreach
- Reviewing existing programs to ensure inclusivity
- Facilitate diversity discussions and education so that sensitivity needs are met
- Examining current materials, including strategic plans, to make sure that they embrace diversity
- As appropriate, assisting agencies in creating a focus on a specific population to maximize services and resources
- Explore new and overlooked opportunities for diversity based funding