Dear Nonprofit Community,
We are all deeply saddened and affected by the murder of George Floyd and recent events. We stand with our friends, families, and the Black community in this time of tremendous pain and sorrow.
This is not a new problem, and the nonprofit community is not exempt from racist behavior. Anti-Black violence and institutional racism are woven into the history of our nation for the past 400 years and pervade all our civic systems and institutions. But each new day is a new opportunity to learn and to act courageously to dismantle racism. We invite you to be a part of the dialogue about racism and racial equity in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit Quarterly is currently running special coverage including a wealth of articles that challenge us to examine our own institutions and work for greater equity.
We recognize that we are a predominantly white organization that must move beyond pledge and platitudes to deliver an organization that reflects our values and community. Today we recommit ourselves to work for racial equity inside and outside the nonprofit sector.
We do not know where this will all lead us. We will stand in unity with our Black nonprofit organizations, friends, families, and communities.
In Solidarity,
The Staff and Board of Washington Nonprofits