Spotlight JEDI Accelerator Building on the growing momentum around equity, driven by our community, in 2022 we ran Canada’s first and only accelerator program for foundations to help strengthen capacity around JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion). PFC Annual Report 2022 Jedi Accelerator 2022 The first cohort brought together 10 foundation teams over 10 months – involving their boards, staff, and senior management – and guided them towards a deeper understanding and common language on JEDI. Beyond this, the program supported participants in turning these learnings into concrete action with tools, resources, and unique action plans for their foundations. The group also formed a strong peer cohort, which continues to collaborate as a community of practice in strengthening effective grantmaking. By the end of the program, its impact had already been felt internally amongst participating organizations. They identified, for example, improved internal cohesion, greater departmental synergies, and updated policies. Beyond this, with the program inspiring adjustments to grantmaking and investment practices, we are also seeing the broader impact on the charitable and non-profit sector. Participants are developing new, deeper, and more equitable partnerships with the organizations they support, and repositioning themselves and peers in how we contribute to the public good. This growing momentum and activation of JEDI practices has also dovetailed with our 2022 policy agenda, as the increase to the disbursement quota and new rules for granting to non-qualified donees both align with more equitable granting mechanisms. In turn, these regulatory changes are being integrated into the curriculum of our 2023 JEDI Accelerator. JEDI in Numbers 87.5% of survey respondents had started to undertake changes to advance JEDI by the end of the program 50 % of survey respondents had completed their JEDI Action Plan by the end of the program, and another 25% were almost or partially complete, with a plan to complete it. 100 % of survey respondents felt that participating in the JEDI Accelerator had been useful for their foundations. From the participants Overall it was a fantastic experience – the guest speakers were excellent, the design of the training really well thought-out, the group dynamic very supportive, and the tools provided, followed by some accountability at each session, incredibly helpful. Excellent program – I got a ton out of it and am confident this experience will have a huge impact on our foundation’s operations moving forward. When we saw the JEDI Accelerator Program being offered by PFC, we saw it as an opportunity to continue our journey of working towards being a more equitable organization alongside other foundations who shared some of the same specific challenges and opportunities within their operating contexts. What developed through the program was a beautiful community of support, encouragement, and idea sharing, from organizations at all points along their journeys that propelled us forward. The bringing together of staff and board members to undertake this work was ideal, creating a sense of collaboration within the foundation, and working toward a final, tangible JEDI action plan gave us a clear sense of accomplishment by the end of the program. Some of the actions are already in place, others are ones we’re moving towards, but there’s no doubt that the Rozsa Foundation is a stronger, more equitable organization thanks to our participation in PFC’s JEDI Accelerator Program
Overall it was a fantastic experience – the guest speakers were excellent, the design of the training really well thought-out, the group dynamic very supportive, and the tools provided, followed by some accountability at each session, incredibly helpful.
Excellent program – I got a ton out of it and am confident this experience will have a huge impact on our foundation’s operations moving forward.
When we saw the JEDI Accelerator Program being offered by PFC, we saw it as an opportunity to continue our journey of working towards being a more equitable organization alongside other foundations who shared some of the same specific challenges and opportunities within their operating contexts. What developed through the program was a beautiful community of support, encouragement, and idea sharing, from organizations at all points along their journeys that propelled us forward. The bringing together of staff and board members to undertake this work was ideal, creating a sense of collaboration within the foundation, and working toward a final, tangible JEDI action plan gave us a clear sense of accomplishment by the end of the program. Some of the actions are already in place, others are ones we’re moving towards, but there’s no doubt that the Rozsa Foundation is a stronger, more equitable organization thanks to our participation in PFC’s JEDI Accelerator Program