As pushback against equity work grows, the energy spent having to convince and defend lived experiences is taking a toll on mental health.

Seemingly small barriers can push our systems to fail those already marginalized. Better quality data helps unpack this context, but we need to be intentional about how we respond once we know more. 

Ahead of the Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we reflect on the work needed to decolonize our systems.

The curb cut effect refers to the ways that adaptive designs end up rippling out to be useful beyond the communities they were designed to accommodate. We see this potential within the financial system.

Do individuals remain poor through bad choices?

Here, we continue to explore how power can impact capital flow decision-making.

What gets measured, gets managed. We pile up data for compliance and impact reports, and as systems get rolling, existing metrics become easier and cheaper to collect.

There are five years, three-hundred-and-thirty-seven days left to make the transition to renewable energy sources to keep within climate warming thresholds of 1.5 degrees celsius

Waiting until a majority of senior VC partners have raised more daughters to address gender disparity in the VC world is one way forward, but is this the most efficient or effective strategy?

Perceptions of affinity are often based on class, impacting our perception of risk and merit when making decisions around access to capital.

Participatory models can shift power in grantmaking and investing. World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund’s participatory funding pilot brings insights relevant to all capital deployers. 

Shifting from a helping mindset to a serving mindset can help us become more effective grantmakers and funders.

Not only are groups that are advocating and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities receiving less funding relative to other causes, they are also being outspent by anti-gender proponents.

The question of who holds power in capital flow dynamics is crucial to New Power Labs’ theory of change.

What do we gain by letting go of binary thinking, and embracing the inherent complexity of shifting power in how capital flows?

Racial disparities in access to capital, healthcare, education, and other socioeconomic issues are interrelated. Systemic problems require systemic solutions.

Access to financial services is as vital as access to healthcare, yet many institutions overlook the underbanked. Innovative solutions show that progress is possible, and could be profitable.

African founders are disproportionately under-represented in VC funding across Kenya. It's not just a pipeline problem.

EDI roles diminished at a faster rate than non-EDI roles beginning in 2021, with continued acceleration during the mass layoffs of 2022.

Diversity initiatives that fail can teach us important lessons about mainstreaming these efforts for greater success, and remind us that one-and-done solutions won’t get us where we aim to go.

Systemic inequalities are exacerbating the impacts of climate change on overlooked communities, but the work between climate action and inclusion is inherently linked. By investing in climate solutions that center equity, we invest in better outcomes for all Canadians.

Data equity, aimed at making sure intersectionalities are represented more inclusively in datasets, may be a key component in helping capital deployers flow capital (grants and investments) more equitably. Alongside the profit opportunities, there are tangible social benefits.

Reframing scarcity as an opportunity could help make progress on climate action. We can look to the economic benefits of inclusion to support the conversation.

The data we have show that women and gender minorities remain underfunded and underrepresented across the capital spectrum. There are specific tools that can help us make progress.

Six holistic principles to remove access and success barriers for a more inclusive workplace.

We see encouraging signals of diverse fund managers investing in diverse communities, unlocking capital to underfunded and overlooked founders while creating positive financial returns.

How do we move beyond representation to shift power at the board and leadership levels?

The short answer: Not really.

What does water have to do with empathy?

Bold, visible, simple, often well-intentioned, pledges have become increasingly popular in the corporate world, but what about their impact?