Our Commitment to Action
Fair Chance supports a network of small nonprofits, a majority of which are led by Black leaders, with three capacity-building programs to ensure these organizations are strong, sustainable, and effective resources in Washington, DC and Prince George’s County for years to come. Since our founding in 2002, we’ve provided capacity building support in the community and through the years began to recognize the role of structural racism and racial inequity in perpetuating poverty. In 2016, we began to intentionally develop an understanding of systemic racism and considering systemic issues as we design and deliver our work. Informed by a series of focus groups with stakeholders including community leaders and youth, we published our Racial Equity Framework (REF) in February of 2019. This is the document that guides Fair Chance’s racial equity journey.
The Framework was the outcome of over two years of deep reflection, critical conversations, and collaboration between our staff, board, partners, and the greater Fair Chance community. By using this Framework as a guide, it is our hope that we can contribute to building a racially equitable DC where every child succeeds: a city with high quality services for youth and families; where decision-making is inclusive and gives power to all voices; and that has policies that promote equity.
The recent protests and calls for racial justice brought forth a time and space for organizational reflection, reassessment, and action. We took the time to lean into our values and work with our community to inform our actions moving forward. In this time, we looked back on our racial equity journey thus far, identified short-term actions, and reaffirmed to doing our part for racial justice.
This work is ongoing and we cannot do this alone. The information shared below is part of our work directly connected with our REF and it is important to share these specific activities while striving for the entirety of our capacity building work implemented with a racial equity mindset and planned with a racial equity lens. As we continue our journey, we commit to sharing our progress and finding ways to engage our community as we strive for a racially equitable DC, region, and nation.
Role | Recent Activities | What’s Next |
Resource Generator and Connector Engage and educate donors and the public on the critical role that community-based nonprofits play in fostering a more equitable society for children and families |
| Share what we learn from our network of nonprofits with donors and foundations to encourage more equitable grantmaking practices. |
Employer Recruit a diverse workforce and maintain a culture and work environment where employees are respected and heard |
| Continue to build a diverse staff and creating policies and practices to support our staff of color |
Leader Use our voice and influence to change inequitable systems and promote and implement equitable practices |
| Use the findings from our racial equity audit to improve all of Fair Chance’s internal and programmatic policies and practices. |
Capacity Builder Strengthen the sustainability and performance of nonprofits in ways that increase their ability to address racial inequity |
| Continue to listen to our community and refine our programming to meet partner needs and foster racial equity |
Advocate Educate funders and policy makers about the important role of community-based nonprofits and support these organizations in advocating for themselves |
| Find opportunities to engage in advocacy alongside our partners |