DE&I in Philanthropy: Why One-Size-Fits-All Giving No Longer Works

Dr. Giulia R. Tufaro
Aug 25
6 min read

When employees bring their values to the table, philanthropy becomes a collective story of trust, innovation, and impact. Inclusive giving is more than policy, it’s participation.

The case for inclusive philanthropy is not only moral, but also practical. Recent studies show that people place greater trust in organizations that reflect diversity at every level. In fact, nearly 54% of Canadians say they view charities with diverse, equitable, and inclusive boards or staff as more trustworthy, and many believe such organizations serve their communities more effectively and fulfill their missions more fully (Give.org, 2022).

This trust is further strengthened when employees themselves are invited to shape giving. One emerging model, the Giving Circle, allows staff to nominate and vote on the nonprofits that matter most to them. The result is powerful: in a single cycle, employees funded 24 different organizations, proof that when people are given voice and choice, philanthropy becomes a collective act of ownership rather than a corporate directive (YourCause, 2023).

But inclusion is not only about representation and choice. It is also a catalyst for innovation. A study of creative teams revealed that gender diversity alone is insufficient; it is the deeper work of inclusion that unlocks true potential. When teams are integrated and every voice is valued, even modest increases in diversity have been shown to boost creativity and problem-solving capacity significantly (arXiv, 2022).

Together, these findings highlight a simple truth: inclusive giving is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. It builds trust, empowers employees, and fuels innovation in ways that traditional, one-size-fits-all philanthropy cannot.

Voices That Inspire

Philanthropy has always been guided by voices that challenge us to think bigger about what it means to give. Melinda Gates, one of the world’s most influential philanthropists, has long argued that generosity isn’t defined by the size of a donation. “Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world,” she has said. A reminder that inclusion in giving starts with the belief that everyone has something meaningful to contribute.

The same spirit is captured by Vernā Myers, a leading voice on inclusion, who once offered perhaps the most memorable metaphor in this field: “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” Her words have echoed across boardrooms and nonprofit gatherings alike, serving as a compass for organizations trying to move beyond token representation to true participation.

And then there is Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, who reframed philanthropy not as a passive transfer of wealth but as an act of leadership. “The best philanthropy is not just about giving money but giving leadership,” he observed, highlighting the responsibility of those with influence to set direction and model commitment.

Together, these voices remind us that philanthropy is not a financial exercise alone. It is a way of leading, of listening, and of making space for others to join the dance.

Real-World Examples That Speak Volumes

The power of inclusive philanthropy is perhaps best illustrated through the stories of those already leading the way. At the TIME 100 Philanthropy Impact Dinner in May 2025, some of the world’s most influential voices gathered to reflect on what giving means in today’s world.

Lin-Manuel Miranda spoke passionately about the importance of representation, calling it a national strength. “More stories mean better stories mean better representation,” he told the audience, underscoring how inclusive narratives create stronger, more authentic communities.

Ayesha Curry, reflecting on the pandemic’s toll on children, emphasized that philanthropy must evolve beyond crisis response. “It wasn’t just about reacting to a crisis, it was about reimagining what sustained, community-driven support could look like,” she said, pointing to a more enduring vision of giving.

For K. Lisa Yang, the focus was on neurodiversity. She invoked the wisdom of Maimonides: “The highest rung of charity is helping someone to help themselves.” Her words were a reminder that the most transformative giving empowers people to shape their own futures.

The corporate world has also shown what inclusive philanthropy can achieve. In its 2024 list of “100 Companies That Care,” People magazine highlighted firms like Cisco, Hilton, Marriott, and Veterans United Home Loans for embedding giving directly into their cultures. Their initiatives ranged from supporting digital literacy and tackling homelessness to refugee inclusion and volunteer programs designed to be as diverse as the communities they serve.

Together, these examples show that inclusive philanthropy is not a distant ideal. It is already being practiced - by cultural icons, business leaders, and employees alike - and it is reshaping what it means to give in the 21st century.

Embedding DE&I into Giving with Depth and Heart

When employees bring their own causes to the table, philanthropy shifts from directive to movement, building pride, participation, and a culture where every voice matters.

Embedding DE&I into philanthropy requires more than policies. It requires a heart. It begins with choice and voice. Picture an employee town hall where, instead of leadership announcing which causes the company will support, staff themselves bring ideas forward. Someone nominates a local autism center, another champions a climate action group. Votes are cast, and suddenly the program no longer feels like a corporate directive but a collective movement. That shift, from top-down to bottom-up, creates not only participation but pride.

Yet choice alone is not enough. To build an inclusive giving culture, organizations must move beyond statistics to storytelling. Numbers inspire, but stories transform. When a volunteer shares how mentoring a child changed both their lives, or when a team describes planting trees in their own community, impact becomes tangible. Through newsletters, videos, or internal blogs, those stories breathe life into corporate culture and remind everyone that philanthropy is human at its core.

Celebrating heroes also plays a vital role. Quoting Melinda Gates or Lin-Manuel Miranda can spark inspiration, but the most powerful heroes are often found within the company itself. When employees explain why they chose to support neurodiversity, refugee aid, or environmental causes, their testimonies create a ripple effect across the organization, reinforcing that philanthropy is deeply personal and deeply shared.

Data, too, has its place. Not as a dry report but as a living narrative. Imagine a dashboard that doesn’t just show hours volunteered, but translates them into children mentored, trees planted, or scholarships awarded. When numbers are connected to human outcomes, employees see that inclusion is not just an ideal but a measurable force for good.

And finally, the most important step is also the simplest: listen first. Before designing programs, ask employees what matters to them. Surveys and focus groups often reveal surprising passions: an unexpected interest in animal welfare, or a groundswell of support for scholarships for disadvantaged youth. Listening ensures that philanthropy reflects not only corporate values but the heartbeat of the workforce.

Inclusive giving is built on these small but powerful shifts: from dictating to listening, from reporting to storytelling, from policies to shared ownership. When companies embrace this approach, philanthropy becomes not just something they do. It becomes part of who they are.

A Story That Sparks Movement

At BrightPath Tech, a global firm, the HR team once assumed “everyone cares about global health.” A survey shattered that: many employees were passionate about neurodiversity, refugee inclusion, and animal welfare.

So they created BrightPath Giving Circles: small groups that chose causes and allocated grants. The result: not only were the chosen causes more representative, but employees described feeling “seen for who we are,” boosting both morale and volunteer engagement.

Philanthropy is at its best when it sparks not only action, but conversation. As organizations rethink how they approach giving, the challenge is no longer whether to give, but how to ensure that generosity truly reflects the voices of those involved. For leaders, fundraisers, and employees alike, this raises important questions worth debating:

How can organizations move beyond offering pre-set causes and instead co-create giving programs with employees?
Can storytelling - sharing the personal reasons behind a gift - transform passive participation into genuine connection?
Where have giving programs unintentionally excluded groups, and how might they be reframed to be more inclusive?

These aren’t just theoretical questions. They are practical prompts for any organization seeking to build a culture of inclusive philanthropy.

Final Thought

Inclusive philanthropy is a story. It’s about opening the dance floor, handing out microphones, and listening to the unique rhythms each contributor brings. When giving reflects individual values, be it for wildlife, climate justice, accessible education, or equity, impact multiplies, and community deepens.

Sources:

- Give.org (2022). Donor Trust Report: DEI.

- YourCause. Giving Circles: Captivating Employees with Inclusivity.

- Arxiv.org (2022). Diversity and Inclusion Boost Creative Team Performance.

- TIME Magazine (2025). Impact Dinner: Leaders Shaping Future Philanthropy.

- People.com (2024). 100 Companies That Care.

- Quotes from Melinda Gates, Vernā Myers, and Tony Blair.

AUTHOR:

Dr. Giulia R. Tufaro is the Founder of the ìMedici Institute of Strategic Philanthropy, Fundraising Director at The Social Incubator, and Managing Director of Filantropì Renactimento. Her work focuses on advancing investments in strategic philanthropy, building corporate–nonprofit partnerships, and co-hosting the ìMedici Master in Strategic Philanthropy in Florence. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Filantropì Renactimento is a strategic philanthropy leadership organization. Through the ìMedici Institute of Strategic Philanthropy, we provide advisory, thought leadership, and immersive educational programs that connect business and nonprofit leaders.

DISCOVER MORE: