501 Commons Point of View on IDEA
501 Commons amplifies the strengths of nonprofits so they can deliver on their mission. Because of our mission, we serve organizations representing diverse communities and providing a wide range of services. Our only service limitation is a policy that allows us to refuse to serve an organization that advocates hate or promotes limiting the rights of others. We witness the inspiring work of organizations that disrupt racism and the marginalization of people and are honored to support their work.
We build inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) into our work with nonprofits and into our internal practices. We actively recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and support the retention and advancement of diverse persons within the organization. Having a board, staff, and volunteer corps with varied personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates a vibrant environment where individuals can learn, grow, and thrive.
Our staff and volunteers are asked to recognize any privilege they carry into their relationship with organizations. We are guided by the organizations we serve and honor their wisdom.
We weave practices that dismantle racism, homophobia, ableism, ageism, religious intolerance, and other forms of prejudice and discrimination into our capacity-building and leadership development work. We can also help organizations become more diverse, operationalize their commitment to equity, and ensure that people from marginalized or oppressed communities benefit equitably from their services.
