Some U.S.-based philanthropic funders are changing the way they frame their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, or DEI — including removing references to Black and other marginalized communities — in an effort to avoid potential legal troubles as conservative groups attack race-based policies in the United States.
Foundations and nonprofits have been worried about the status of their DEI programs in the wake of last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that colleges cannot consider applicants’ race when deciding which students to admit — a practice known as affirmative action. The decision has spurred legal challenges to race-based policies in a variety of sectors, including philanthropy.
Last August, the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund venture capital firm and its foundation were sued for providing grants to Black women entrepreneurs. A lower U.S. court will soon issue a decision on the case. It could affect U.S. philanthropies that fund DEI work both in the U.S. and abroad.