Diversity, equity and inclusion

We cannot do this work without addressing the root causes of the inequities we see across the country and in our community. Often, poverty, hunger, un- and under-employment, and other inequities are not the result of individual choices but of biases built into our systems and institutions. These biases provide advantage to some people while disadvantaging others. Most often, they seek to advantage white, male, able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual, wealthy or well-off individuals. As a result, Black people, Indigenous people, other People of Color (BIPOC), and other vulnerable communities — such as the LGBTQ+ community and the disabled community to name just two of many — are disproportionately impacted and experience greater difficulties accessing the resources and supports we all need to thrive.

We affirm that systemic biases exist and impact the Brookline community. We pledge to work tirelessly to address the root causes of inequity and help build more just systems with our community. We are committed to constantly examining our own assumptions, practices, and impact, and to revising how we work to better align with our values and anti-racism efforts.

As a grantmaker, we recognize there are power dynamics in traditional philanthropy that create inequities between grantmakers and the organizations and movements proximate to the work. As a grantmaker, we have a role to play in dismantling the systems and practices that perpetuate bias in philanthropy. We believe those closest to community challenges are closest to the solutions and best positioned to lead such efforts for change, and pledge to continually examine and improve our grantmaking practices to eliminate barriers that prevent people, collaborations, and organizations from accessing the resources they need to do their work. We are committed to democratizing giving in Brookline so every member of our community feels they can make a difference in the ways most meaningful to them.

Equity is both the outcome we seek and the process we’re using to get there. We strive to operate with full transparency and always welcome feedback from our community.