Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a central issue and growing priority that touches all industries across Canada. A rise in galvanizing movements that in recent years have included #metoo, #blacklivesmatter, #everychildmatters and others have underscored how and to what extent inequality, racism and bias continue to prevail across many areas of society.

The charitable and not-for-profit (NFP) sector has not been immune to challenges related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), leaving many organizations seeking to understand how they must evolve their culture, policy and practices to foster meaningful change.

With market research support from The Portage Group, CharityVillage® sought to examine the current state of DEI practices in the sector generally, and more specifically as it relates to job search and the hiring process. This initiative revealed that while Canadian charities and NFPs have certainly made inroads toward creating a sector that is intentional in fostering a culture that is truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive, some are further along this path than others.

The following report highlights the key findings from this study and includes some preliminary insights and considerations for charities and NFPs related to organizational and hiring practices that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.