So, most of your board members and donors are white…

So, let's talk about something that is a giant misconception in philanthropy.

White people have more money. (That's not the misconception, that's a fact.)

White people are more generous. (That's the misconception.)

What happens is nonprofits get distracted by wealth when we should focus on passion and generosity.

Here's how I'll explain it.

My husband often wants to have some what I order at a restaurant because he's not good at ordering. He gets something and doesn't end up liking it as much as what I ordered. (We solve for this and now I usually order for the both of us, per his request.)

Just because I have what he wants, doesn't mean I'm going to share it.

I'm wealthy when it comes to my steak frites, but not generous with them. 😬

Just because someone HAS the wealth does NOT mean they are going to GIVE.

Capacity is one thing that nonprofits focus too much on. It shouldn't be ignored, but it is not more important than passion or generosity.

We end up spending our money (staff time) on meeting with, calling and cultivating and stewarding the wrong donors.

Well, who are the most generous donors, then?

Black, Indigenous and People of Color.

Let's look at the facts:

Black Americans give a larger share of their wealth to charities than any other racial group in America.

Two-thirds of Black households donate to community-based organizations and causes.

Black households on average give 25% more of their income per year than white households.

63% percent of Latino households give charitable donations.

Black Americans give 6-8% of their wealth each year and Latino Americans give 5-7%, despite Black families' wealth being less than 15% that of white families.

White Americans donate 2% of their wealth each year.

What should you do with this information?

Call your donors of color. Thank them. Get to know them better. Ask them why they give. Let them know how they have made an impact.

In short? Prioritize them.

Ask them if they would be interested in joining your board.

This is an imperative. Especially if the community you serve is not mostly white, then your board and leadership should not be mostly white.

Fix it. Call them. Look at your donor list and make the changes you need to today.

Struggling to figure out how to prioritize your time and donors?

It's a lot. I completely understand. We cover this in CourageLab. I teach you a specific formula to follow and how to cultivate and steward which types of donors. No more stretching yourself thin. Work smarter, not harder. Join us in CourageLab today.