Did you know that one in four American adults has a disability? Ryan Easterly, Executive Director of the WITH Foundation and co-chair of the Presidents’ Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy, reminds us of the importance of this issue:
“Whatever your mission is, you’re not doing it effectively if you’re not including a disability lens. Disability crosses all forms of identities; please take the steps to be intentional about including disability.”
What Does Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking Look Like?
Disability-inclusive grantmaking is about more than just meeting legal requirements. It’s about genuinely valuing the voices and needs of people with disabilities and striving to make our organizations accessible and inclusive. While there’s always more to learn and do, foundations have an opportunity to promote disability inclusion in their decision-making and grant processes. By prioritizing this, they can work towards our missions and contribute to more equitable communities.
Learn More About Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking »
In recent years, our members have engaged in programs like “Including Disability in DEI Efforts in Philanthropy” and “Disability Inclusion Workshops,” hosted by Keri Gray, a disability inclusion advocate and consultant, which provide valuable insights and create space for meaningful conversations.
We’re also inspired by the efforts of members like Angela Hult, who discusses on our Catalytic Philanthropy podcast how a survey funded by the Kuni Foundation on disability data led to important policy changes. Listen here:
Part 1
Part 2
Our Commitment
At Exponent Philanthropy, we’re on a journey to better understand and implement disability inclusion. In 2023, we signed the Disability Inclusion Pledge, joining nearly 100 other organizations in committing to clear steps for creating inclusive organizations and grantmaking practices.
Steps We’re Taking
- Demographic Data: Since 2019, we have been collecting data on disability identity through our Foundation Operations and Management Survey, which we report in our annual Foundation Operations & Management Report.
- Quarterly Gatherings: We participate in the Disability & Philanthropy Forum’s quarterly gatherings to continue learning and growing in this area.
- Internal Assessment: We’re evaluating our internal systems with an inclusion lens and making necessary changes.
- Website Accessibility: We’ve added Userway, an AI tool that enhances content accessibility for people with disabilities. You can adjust text size, contrast, or make the page dyslexia-friendly using the stick figure icon at the bottom of any page.
Conference Accessibility
This year’s annual conference in Austin will include:
- Sessions hosted on one floor
- Elevator access to all conference facilities
- Ramp access to the plenary stage
- Live captioning at plenary sessions, available on personal devices
- A designated gender-neutral restroom at the conference hotel
- Food allergy accommodations with our hotel partners
Additional Accommodations
We’re committed to learning about various disabilities, including physical, sensory, cognitive, psychosocial, and chronic illnesses. To improve accessibility, we’re adding more conference accommodations, such as:
- Options for assistive listening devices or ASL interpreters
- Requiring all speakers to use accessible design in their presentations and to always use microphones so that everyone can hear and participate fully
- Our conference app works with phone and browser accessibility settings
- Limited printed copies of the conference agenda will be available onsite
Ongoing Learning
We recognize that some disabilities are visible, while others are not. To ensure equal access for all, we encourage our community members to share their needs with us. We want to know how we can better support you—what helps one person may improve access for everyone.
Join Us
If you’d like to learn more about disability inclusion in philanthropy and beyond, we encourage you to join the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, explore their resources, and consider joining us as pledge signatories. We also have a disability funders peer circle. Contact us to learn more and connect with the leaders. We’re grateful for your partnership on this journey.