Celebrating Six Years of Positive Impact

The initiative was started in 2016 by the Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development, in partnership with Keecha Harris and Associates, Inc. Since its launch, InDEEP also inspired the creation of The Presidents’ Forum on Racial Equity in Philanthropy in 2018. It launched its third phase with Close the Gap and Race to the Board in 2019.

InDEEP is a professional development series that engages a network of foundation staff, including senior leaders, committed to integrating racial equity and social justice throughout their environmental philanthropy. The initiative supports environmental grantmakers to:

Cultivate opportunities to increase funding for organizations led by Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC),
Embed a justice and equity lens to their grantmaking, and
Strengthen the capacities of grantee organizations and leaders across the field to create a more diverse and inclusive environmental movement.
In six years, the InDEEP initiative has reached over 750 leaders and staff at 167 foundations, representing total annual assets of more than $163 billion.

Phase 3 Programming
The third phase of InDEEP programming began in fall 2019 with a four-part virtual learning series that offered perspective on the impact environmental and conservation funders have had — intentionally or not — on racial equity and justice practices in the communities they serve. This body of work also seeks to amplify the voices of BIPOC leaders in conservation and the broader environmental movement in service of igniting connections, increasing understanding, and surfacing new approaches. This phase of InDEEP programming will continue in 2022 with the continuation of two signature programs: Closing the Gap and Race to the Board.

The Racial Equity Truthtellers Series
This Racial Equity Truthtellers Series is designed to lift up first-person accounts of racial equity journeys that lead to internal change. Our Racial Equity Truthtellers subjects include a variety of individuals: those who have been part of the InDEEP Initiative and others who are external to the Initiative but who have been enlightened on racial equity with a compelling story we wanted to lift up.

How can I get involved?
Please email [email protected] for more information on upcoming activities and to learn about investor opportunities. We look forward to having you join us on this journey.