Our ongoing journey
Our commitment is reflected in our actions and activities. With our partners in the community—donors, nonprofits, and residents—we strive to advance both equity and belonging in several ways.
At the Wichita Foundation, our vision, mission, and approach guide our work, the priorities that we live out, and the lens we view, and participate in the community. We envision a Wichita where every person flourishes.
Our values intentionally commit to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We advance DEI in accordance with our strategic framework, which is consistent with our newly-adopted Anti-hate Funding Policy Statement.
Our commitment is reflected in our actions and activities. With our partners in the community—donors, nonprofits, and residents—we strive to advance both equity and belonging in several ways.
As a charitable organization, grants and impact investments are the primary vehicles we use to mobilize solutions and more just systems.
Collaboration is at the center of helping us tackle issues facing Wichitans. This approach bakes equity into the process by working with the community to design solutions.
Our external actions require a complementary internal commitment.
In November 2023, the WF Board adopted an Anti-hate Funding Policy that ensures no funding will be directed to organizations that engage in hateful speech or activities. This policy applies to all Foundation grantmaking and impact investments, including donor-advised recommendations. Our pledge to anti-hate is not just words; it’s a commitment to stop discrimination.
The Wichita Foundation will not make grants or impact investments to organizations the WF knows or has reason to believe support or engage in hateful activities that promote violence or harm directed to legally protected classes. These activities are contrary to the Foundation’s mission and its charitable status. As part of its review process, staff will do their due diligence to ensure steps are taken to avoid any support from the Foundation.
The Foundation may consult resources such as Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Facebook, Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative (GBI), Hate Groups and Extremist Organizations in America: An Encyclopedia (ABC-CLIO), Counter Extremism Project (CEP), Political Research Associates (PRA), GLAAD, PFLAG and Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) to identify and update information regarding potentially hateful activities.
We believe that equitable opportunity is the first step toward reaching our vision for Wichita: to be a place where all residents thrive and belong. It will require a partnership between us, our donors, civic leaders, community, and organizations. Together, we can experience prosperity through lasting, long-term change.
This is our journey, and we invite you to grow and learn with us.
As a charitable vehicle in Wichita, we inspire philanthropic activities. We connect funders and donors with our region’s greatest needs and solutions. We address gaps facing our community, supporting research that helps deepen our understanding of these issues, and leading solutions with a vision for a better Wichita. Read more about our equity journey below.
In November 2023, WF deployed a new policy that will flag any grant or impact investment recommendations from the Foundation or our fund holders that are directed to groups that are deemed hate groups. A few of the resources we’ll utilize include the Southern Poverty Law Center, Horizon Forum, Council on Foundations and the Anti-Defamation League.
Yes, other foundations use resources such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and Horizons Forum to avoid association with nonprofits whose views promote hate.
The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership association that serves as a guide for philanthropies as they advance the greater good. Definitions of hate and extremism can be found on their website. Also, here is a definition from the Southern Poverty Law Center:
“The Southern Poverty Law Center defines a hate group as an organization that – based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities – has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. We do not list individuals as hate groups, only organizations.
The organizations on our hate group list vilify others because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity – prejudices that strike at the heart of our democratic values and fracture society along its most fragile fault lines."
Hatred is the opposite of charity. By caring about equity and opposing hate, we invest in a community where all people can embrace the full spectrum of their human rights, fostering empathy, respect and a more harmonious city.
By 2050, our country stands to realize an $8 trillion gain in gross domestic product by closing the U.S. racial equity gap. This involves eliminating disparities that hinder the potential and economic contributions of people. Beyond an increase in economic output, advancing racial equity can boost consumer spending and tax revenues, while reducing social services spending and health-related costs.
In around 25 years, when today’s children enter their prime working years, people of color will represent half the total population and workforce. Investing now in dismantling racist systems ensures a future workforce ready to excel in technology, arts, education, healthcare, business and governance.