Workshop # 2 - From Intention to Action: Using a Theory of Change to Operationalize Your Equity Statement

Presenter: Alex Hildebrand, Principal, Sunburst Strategies

Session Objectives — At the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand how a Theory of Change can be used to develop and map an organization’s approach to advancing DEI

• Learn best practices based on lessons learned from on-the-ground efforts to integrate DEI into an organization’s mission work

• Be exposed to real-world examples of organizations that have used Theories of Change to determine how they operationalize DEI in their program design and delivery

• Gain insights from practice exercises and peer discussion about the opportunities and challenges of operationalizing DEI work

Session Description

Many nonprofits, foundations, and public agencies have penned equity statements to convey their commitment to advancing DEI. While this is an important starting point, equity statements are not sufficiently detailed to guide implementation of an organization’s equity work, and also run the risk of frustrating internal and external stakeholders if there is not substance to back up the message.

This session will show you how a Theory of Change – which is an effective tool for learning, planning and accountability because it forces you to define in detail whom you serve, how you serve them, and the outcomes that define success for your work - can serve as a framework for explicating an organization’s equity commitment.

The session will consist of a presentation of concepts, utilizing real-life examples that demonstrate both the opportunities and pitfalls of working to advance equity, and then engage participants in exercises and conversations to explore how the concepts can be applied in their own contexts.