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The Vancouver Island Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is deeply concerned by the reports of anti-black racism experienced by the members of the Toronto Chapter of AFP. The allegations against the AFP Toronto board serve as an important reminder that we, as an organization dedicated to education and ethics, must remain committed to fostering equity and inclusion within the fundraising industry.
The Vancouver Island Chapter acknowledges the significant challenges and systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities, particularly those from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) backgrounds. In 2019, our membership survey called attention to a lack of representation and diversity in our chapter’s leadership, programming, and membership in general. Since then, we have taken several actions that will help us work towards being a more inclusive and accessible organization including:
- Recruiting a committee to review our National Philanthropy Day Giving Hearts Awards program, award categories, award criteria, with a view to making this a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable program
- Creating an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Chair position on the board to ensure these values remain an ongoing focus of our work
- Drafting our first IDEA work plan including a diversity statement
- Working with BIPOC experts in our industry to host educational sessions
- We are currently exploring offering scholarships for BIPOC fundraisers to attend educational conferences and events
We recognize that there is more to be done, and we understand that unlearning deeply ingrained biases requires continuous effort and self-reflection.
The Vancouver Island Chapter of AFP stands firmly against any form of racism, discrimination, or exclusion within the fundraising industry or in any other industry or community. We pledge to use our platform to elevate the voices of BIPOC communities, provide equitable opportunities, and actively challenge systemic barriers.
As an organization, we are dedicated to fostering an environment of learning and growth. Looking forward, we will continue to seek input from our members and broader community to ensure that they feel safe, heard, and represented. We promise to listen, even if what we hear is uncomfortable or reflects poorly on us. We will collaborate with diverse communities, experts, and organizations to implement policies and practices that create a more inclusive and equitable fundraising industry on Vancouver Island. We invite and encourage the participation of all fundraisers in our community in this important work.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Vancouver Island Chapter
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