Peer Learning Initiatives

JEDI Accelerator

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) have become pressing priorities for foundations in Canada. How do you start? How do you move from general commitment to action? This year long peer-learning program is for foundations that want to bring JEDI to life throughout their organization – from governance to grantmaking.

There is still time to register! We’re accepting registrations until MARCH 3

Get in touch if you’re interested in learning more.

Who should apply?

This is a peer-learning opportunity open to PFC members. Grantmaking foundations that are not members of PFC can participate under certain conditions. If you are a non PFC member, but a private or public foundation interested in participating, please contact us.

The program is designed for foundations who are committed and seeking an opportunity to learn and apply JEDI throughout their organization.

The participants

This course has room for teams of 2-3 people from up to 10 foundations each session.
It is open to PFC members and non-members, under specific conditions*.
French-speaking and English-speaking participants are welcome (written materials and simultaneous translation offered in both languages).
Foundations of all sizes will benefit from the program.
Participating foundations will be at different stages of their JEDI learning and implementation. But to get the most of the learnings, foundations must have sufficient internal commitment to advancing JEDI through policy and concrete steps in the coming year.

The program

Through the JEDI Accelerator, a small group of Canadian foundations will be guided through a reflection, planning, and action process. The program is highly interactive and includes:

key concepts, frameworks, and tools
peer discussion and problem-solving
coaching calls with facilitators
inspiring guest speakers
activities for foundations to undertake between group sessions

By the end of this interactive year-long program participants gain:

A deep understanding and common language on JEDI among your team
JEDI tools specifically selected for your needs
An action plan on JEDI
Implemented key steps (such as board and staff education and engagement, review of policies and programs, relationship building with community partners)
A strong peer cohort for mutual support into the future

Areas of learning and action planning

Level of the individual: JEDI involves lifelong learning and self-development. How can our foundation create a climate and practices to support each person’s learning?

Internal organizational level: JEDI in governance, human resources, and organizational culture. How can our foundation be a place of work where belonging, listening and power-sharing are foundations of our culture?

External organizational level: JEDI in community relations, granting, investments, and external communications and public voice. How can our foundation’s work contribute to a more equitable and just world?

Accountability: How will we track and communicate our progress?

A team-based approach

Each participating foundation designates a board/staff team made up of 2 to 4 people. These can be a mix of foundation board members, foundation leaders, and program or operations staff.

The best results come when foundations include their most senior staff person (CEO, President or Executive Director) as well as board members and other staff. It is recommended that the same individuals participate in the entirety of the JEDI program so they can thoughtfully disseminate the information back to all members of their organization.

The Facilitators

Hanifa Kassam, Juniper Glass, and Tania Cheng have been an active part of the philanthropic sector, creating resources and holding space for learning and action to advance justice, equity, and inclusion. They each hold Master’s degrees in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership and have experience governing and consulting at grantmaking foundations across Canada.

The facilitator team brings lived experience in racialized, disabled, queer, non-binary, rural, urban, and low-income realities, as well as work experience in many other diverse communities.

Juniper and Hanifa are also authors of PFC’s action guides on DEI in foundations, gender-lens philanthropy, and DEI responses to COVID-19.