DEI: Where are We Now? An Update for a New Era

It has been almost a year since we published an article about effective strategies for dealing with racism to address these issues in a meaningful way, as opposed to just wringing hands, so that your organization can also continue to focus on its mission in the community. I have heard from several of you about the importance […]

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Generational Impacts on the Nonprofit Workplace

At a recent Valtas team meeting we discussed an important topic – the generational differences we’re seeing in the workplace and the impact each generation is having on the nonprofit world. The goal was to understand what’s important to employees at various stages of their lives and careers so that we can lead better and […]

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Are Nonprofits Still Effective?

​In August we published an article titled Successful Anti-Racist Leadership in Nonprofits that was based on a presentation we gave for the Washington State Nonprofit Conference. After publishing that article, we received the following comment:  I like the focus on racism vs. DEI. I’ve always felt the DEI approach was too squishy and had way too many […]

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Successful Anti-Racist Leadership in Nonprofits

In the last few years, we’ve all experienced a long overdue social reckoning with racism. To address it many nonprofit organizations have implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and tried to hire more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) staff. While this is important work and more needs to be done, unfortunately there is […]

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Moving Beyond Performative Diversity in Executive Hiring

Strategies and Tactics for Supporting Diversity in Hiring What is performative diversity? Performative diversity is when an organization advocates and affirms a commitment to DEI but takes no practical actions towards achieving it. Moving past affirmations and into action requires thoughtful, proactive, and concrete steps to foster a workplace that genuinely values a broadly diverse workforce. One […]

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DEI is More than Visual: It’s Personal

Who are you? How do you interact with the world? When are you at your best as part of a team? These seemingly simple questions are actually landmines for many, perhaps most, of us when we think about our participation in life, and more specifically the workplace. Employers are not unique in raising the issues […]

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The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. – Reflections for MLK Day

As we approach the national holiday that celebrates the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it seems appropriate to revisit the reason we NEED a National Holiday to reflect on his legacy, and what we, as nonprofit leaders can and should DO with such a holiday.  Obviously, Dr. King stands as an icon of the Civil […]

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7 Must Answer Questions for Nonprofits Preparing for Board & Executive Leadership Diversity

As we reflect on a truly transformational 2020, the increased focus on race, social justice, and the impact of Black Lives Matter in our community, many of our clients and partners are continuing their own journey and growth in building toward a racially equitable workplace and society.  The work is hard and uncomfortable, and progress […]

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Reflections of Race – The Intersection of Education, Workforce and Diversity

I’m standing in the cafeteria holding a tray of food.  It’s 1979 and I am a freshman in High School.  I look around to see a room divided. The black people are sitting on one side, the white people on the other, the Filipinos, the Mexicans in the middle–and I ask myself the question, “where do […]

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