DEI Conversations
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) surrounds us. We are living through a racial awakening that is happening in our businesses, communities, families, and friendships. We are quickly learning that we have a knowledge gap about lived non-white experiences. In my work, Loftis Partners find that organizations are struggling to implement plans for equity and inclusion beyond building knowledge and awareness with employees. Yet equity and inclusion work at a systemic change level is more than awareness. However, knowledge is not enough. This constant and non-linear work includes individual change, team conversations, and organization design.
Loftis Partners offers several options for starting diversity, equity, and inclusion work at your organization. We also partner with Center for Trauma-Resilient Communities and Wayfinding Partners to deepen and broaden our work and team experience.
Strategy Conversations - These are 2-hour sessions where we explore the needs and aspirations for the client and what level of work may be involved. A strategy conversation may be a stand-alone option if you are looking for direction at this point, and a strategy conversation may be the first step in a longer planning process together. $500 per session
Conversation Facilitation - More often than not, clients want to participate fully in the discussions happening in stakeholder groups. Loftis Partners brings experience as facilitators in building strong connections and safety within groups discussing these topics. Conversation facilitation may include guiding discussions at the board or executive level over a series of meetings and combined with Doing the Work workshops. (Pricing based on project)
Project Facilitation - Long-term systems change involves multiple stakeholders, teams, and partnerships across an organization or community. Cultural change takes 3-5 years before results take hold. Loftis Partners works with clients to build long-term plans for systems change at all levels. An essential way to address and confront racism and oppression lies in the way organizations design and implement structures, systems, and processes. Loftis Partners works with clients to review these elements and co-create loops of change through a learning framework. (Pricing based on project)
Nonprofit Board DEIB Journey - In our current strategic planning projects that ask for a racial equity lens, we are finding three streams of work: staff, board, and staff/board as an organization. Helping the board develop their own philosophy and practices around DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) before integrating with staff on strategic discussions can enhance the board’s capacity and decrease the incidents of harm. We offer this work in four phases:
Phase 1: Strategically Looking Inward - This includes 2 board-only sessions with Loftis Partners to develop the board’s own DEI philosophy as integrated with the organization’s overall DEI work. This work usually takes 6-8 weeks based on board availability. $3000
Phase 2: Tactically Looking Inward - This includes a board-level DEI audit of documents and practices, five individual interviews with selected board members, and a summary report that outlines opportunities to center equity in membership requirements, onboarding, meetings, communications, information sharing, conflict resolution, and accountability. This work usually takes 10-12 weeks based on board availability. $3000
Phase 3: Understanding Our Power - This includes 2 board-only sessions with Loftis Partners to identify the types of power present within the board and how to effectively distribute power in ways that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This work usually takes 6-8 weeks based on board availability. $3000
Phase 4: Acting on Our Commitment - This includes 2 board-only sessions with Loftis Partners to understand people-positive management practices to use with the Executive Director and determine how to sustain the DEI work going forward. This work usually takes 6-8 weeks based on board availability. $3000
Package pricing is available for Nonprofit Board DEIB work. Your board is a candidate for this work if the board has completed some level of DEI knowledge work, is willing to complete this work outside of regularly scheduled board meetings and without staff present and has a commitment by individual board members to participate in each session. Contact us today for questions and inquiries.
