Since 2018, EGA has been collaborating with Candid (formed through the merger of GuideStar and Foundation Center in 2019, https://candid.org) to import demographic data submitted to Candid by grantors and grantees in the Tracking the Field database. In alignment with EGA’s Racial Equity Point of View, EGA is stepping up to proactively collect this data by launching the Demographic Data Transparency Campaign.
Candid’s organizational demographics data section includes key demographic information like race & ethnicity and gender identity of organizations’ board and staff. As more funders commit to increase support to organizations led by Black, Indigenous and all People of Color, this data is ever so important in helping funders understand who they’re funding. With the recent racial equity movements in philanthropy, many funders have been collecting this data in different ways, but there is a lack of coordination and transparency. Grantees often need to submit their demographic data multiple times in various formats for different funders. The demographic data submitted to Candid will be publicly available on organization profiles through Candid’s GuideStar nonprofit data search tool. This allows funders across the sector to collect and share data in a streamlined way.
By joining this campaign, you’re helping to create a central repository of demographic data that all funders could leverage, reduce grantee burden and foster sector-wide collaboration on racial equity. Do you know 30% of your grantees could already have this data available in Candid’s database? Join other EGA members on this campaign to increase the transparency of demographic data and advance racial equity in environmental philanthropy.
How To Participate?
Step 1: Lead by Example
Claim and update your organization’s GuideStar profile on Candid, and complete the Demographic Section of your profile.
Step 2: Reach Out to Your Grantees
Encourage your grantees to claim and update their GuideStar profiles on Candid, and complete the Demographic Section of their profiles.
Download supporting documents and sample grantee outreach emails here.
Step 3: Access the Demographics Data
The demographics data will be searchable in Candid’s GuideStar nonprofit database, as well as in the EGA Tracking the Field database. Candid’s also offers a new Tableau Dashboard tool to see high-level summaries of the demographic data. With EGA’s support, funders will also be able to access the full set of demographics data submitted by their grantees (not limited to environmental grantees) in a downloadable format.
Step 4 (Optional): Share Your Grants Data
If you want to take one more step forward, submit your most recent grants data to EGA and Candid to increase data transparency of your grantmaking. This will also allow us to look up the demographic data for your most recent list of grantees. To share your grants data, export a complete list of your most recent grants data in a spreadsheet, following Candid’s template and email the file to trackingthefield@ega.org and egrants@candid.org.
Contact Michelle Velez at mvelez@ega.org today to participate and learn more!
