Each month, Independent Sector collects research with broad sector relevance to share with you. December’s research contains important insights into coalition building, medical school diversity, and the need for more civil rights lawyers.
TCC Group Produces New Report on Coalition-Building
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation engaged TCC Group to research coalition building and help funders better understand key considerations in convening and supporting coalitions. Their findings are framed in four parts: coalition capacity and structure, context, support, and strategy. According to the report, coalitions will be in a better position to achieve their goals if all four quadrants are being effectively developed and considered.
More on the report: https://www.tccgrp.com/resource/coalitions-as-a-tool-for-advocacy/
AAMC Announces Growth in Medical Schools’ Diversity
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reports that US medical schools enrolled a more diverse class in the 2021-22 academic year. Some demographics that have shown an increase are Black, Hispanic, and women applicants as enrollees. David J. Skorton, MD AAMC President and CEO, explained: “For nearly two years, Americans have watched the heroism and dedication of physicians on the front lines. As the nation faces a real and significant projected shortage of physicians, I am inspired by how many individuals want to follow in the footsteps of those before them to serve their communities.”
More on the findings: https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/press-releases/medical-school-enrollment-more-diverse-2021
More Civil Rights Lawyers Needed to Combat Racial Injustice; Foundations Can Help
The president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, and president of the Ford Foundation collaborated on an article that concludes that not much has changed since the racial reckoning from George Floyd’s murder. Black and Brown people still face daily acts of police violence, their right to vote is still threatened through legislative action, and school boards still restrict teachers’ ability to discuss the nation’s legacy of slavery and systemic racism.
There are still many ongoing battles playing out in courtrooms and legislatures throughout the country and these are the places where the outcomes become law. Civil rights lawyers play an integral part in the process to create lasting change but unless more funding is available to support their training and retention, the battle cannot be sustained. The authors propose that a real difference can be made if philanthropies begin funding civil-rights-law scholarships, invest in public interest centers, and/or develop fellowship programs.
Read more here: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/more-civil-rights-lawyers-are-needed-to-fight-racial-justice-battles-philanthropy-can-help?cid=gen_sign_in
Add Your Voice
The research summaries above are by no means an exhaustive list of the newest information out there to help us better understand the nonprofit landscape. Did we miss a report you think we should know about and share? Let us know by leaving a comment!
