Future State Diversity Philanthropy and Community Investment
Challenge
We recognized that the assets of our business, even as a small business, could be repurposed to serve our commitment to anti-racist efforts in our community. These assets include our time as a strategic consulting firm offered pro-bono or at reduced rates, but also, the physical asset of our beautiful office space in downtown Oakland.
Actions
Our solution was to gift approximately 15% of our office space to a local non-profit, Just Cities, which is dedicated to anti-racism, restorative justice, and equity. They have shared our space for more than 4 years now, and we have built a beautiful and mutually beneficial partnership as a result. They engage in the following inquiry, “How do we, today, as an evolved society, forge a different road of restorative justice?”, and we are honored to be a key partner in their work, both as a fundraising partner, a donor, a connector, and a thought partner on key initiatives.
Additionally, we make our space available for local non-profits for free, ranging from organizations supporting social entrepreneurship, gender equity, homelessness, education, and more. The space has been used for conferences, seminars, board meetings, and as a co-working space, all free of charge.
Outcomes
One of the most exciting outcomes of the opening of our space to the community has been the opportunity to come to learn about the causes that we might support with grants and pro-bono in our own ‘back yard’, and to meet the primarily BIPOC leaders driving social change throughout the Bay Area. We have also learned about the causes and the boards that our team members are supporting in paid volunteer capacity, and have been able to help those causes accelerate and drive impact at no cost. This is a major benefit for our team members, and a source of pride.
Contact
Shannon Adkins
Quote
Business is the most powerful force on the planet, and CEOs have a duty to ensure that we leave our communities, our customers, our employees and our planet better off. A key element is to work with diligent attention and transparency towards a world that works for everyone, that provides equity and opportunity for all, and that ensures that the business models, mindsets and behaviors of our teams, and all of our policies and processes do no harm. For this reason, I am proud to be a part of this pledge, and a leader in building a more inclusive and equitable world.