On May 25, 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, George Floyd was murdered by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While this was not the first (nor unfortunately, the last) brutal murder of an unarmed BIPOC man or woman, it began a national reckoning with systemic racial injustices that have permeated thoughts and practices in the United States.
In 2019, The Presser Foundation participated in an equity cohort to integrate equity more deeply into its work. Floyd’s death accelerated the work. The Foundation established an ad-hoc committee to analyze and assess all aspects of the Foundation’s processes, practices, and systems. The goal of that committee and the Foundation’s ongoing equity work is to thoroughly center and integrate equity, inclusion, and justice in every way. We’ve started to implement that work, guided by our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, anti-racism, and anti-bigotry.*
We’ll talk more about the progress we’ve made (and the work we still must do) in a future post, but for now, we’d like to specifically address the why. In other words, why do this work?
Much has been written on the topic of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, with words more eloquent and potent than what we share here. We hope, however, that this gives a framework for the why of our efforts.
1. Systemic racism is woven into the fabric of the United States.
Since 1619, when the first 20 African slaves arrived in Virginia, racism has been embedded and centered in every system. Whether racism is clear and obvious, such as slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, redlining, or via more insidious ways like in microaggressions, healthcare, funding for education; it is ubiquitous and pervasive.
Board President Dr. Jeffrey Cornelius captured the essence of a history of racism when reflecting on Floyd’s murder. “A tragedy centuries in the making, and one of countless unsung and little known similar horrors, has captured center stage as it should, forcing the past to well up and inundate us with the images of injustices suffered by so many for so long.”
The Foundation believes it is our duty and responsibility to fight and advocate for every person to equally and equitably enjoy the rights written into the Declaration of Independence – the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
2. As a field, philanthropy especially has been pervaded by systemic injustices
In its purest definition, philanthropy is about the love of humanity. However, the field has faced criticism, including but not limited to the unequal power dynamic between foundation and nonprofit, the demographics of foundation staff and board and if they reflect the community, and whether foundations themselves are even democratic. Woven into these points are the historical viewpoints that the philanthropy practiced by large philanthropies contributed to deepening injustices rather than solving them. Added to that question is whether the wealth accumulated by individuals through the companies they lead or the investments they make has come at the cost of workers’ rights in an unfair and unjust system.
Several of these critiques of philanthropy and foundations are valid. However, as Dr. Michael Moody of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy points out, “good critique is a calling in, not a calling out.” Phil Buchanan of the Center for Effective Philanthropy notes that criticism fuels learning and improvement; however, it “can lead to misguided reforms, distract from actual problems, and take our attention away from increasing the effectiveness of crucial philanthropic efforts.”
There are certainly areas within philanthropy that should improve, but the space is full of opportunities to lead, whether that is trying new ideas when government or business won’t, serving as a convener, amplifying work, or engaging in conversation.
However, there is work to be done to bring philanthropy to a place where it can be at its best. Two years after Floyd’s murder, foundations continue to grapple with hard and necessary questions on equity, inclusion, and justice, and how the field and individual organizations can not only better serve but more clearly integrate just principles into the entire philanthropic sector.
3. Field of music
Another lens to view the Foundation’s centering racial equity efforts focuses on our mission for the past 100 years – supporting the musical arts. During Theodore Presser’s time, classical music was the most well-known and listened-to music by the concert going public. While the Foundation has expanded to support music of all genres, traditions, and styles, we continue to provide funding for organizations who play and present classical music.
However, as noted by a number of articles, classical music is very white and diversity continues to be lacking on the classical music stage. According to a study by the League of American Orchestras, less than 2% of musicians in orchestras are African American, while only 2.5% of orchestra musicians are Hispanic/Latinx.
While there are music educating organizations designed to confront these issues and increase the diversity of individuals interested in and playing classical music (for example, many Foundation grantee partners are part of the PMAY Artists Initiative, which is a collaboration of leading Philadelphia music institutions that believe in providing access to music education for all students), the Foundation believes that we need to continue discussing with the organizations we support the lack of diversity in classical music. Practically, this idea has become embedded into our efforts, as organizations could apply to receive microgrants through the Special Projects grantmaking area to support DEI planning efforts.
We are pleased not only with the organizations who applied for and are implementing DEI practices into their systems, but also with others who are carefully considering repertoire and voices previously absent or lacking in classical music. We hope to see more progress made through incorporating diversity in classical music and all types of music.
Embedded within these subcategories is a lesson that we hope all recognize – the importance of understanding and addressing the systemic challenges that fellow humans have faced and the threats and microaggressions they experience every day. In order for change to happen, philanthropy must address the issues. Allies and resources are needed. Foundations can serve as allies, share decision-making, and catalyze resources to be disbursed in a number of ways to address racism.
To learn more about the practical steps The Presser Foundation is taking to center equity, keep an eye out for Part 2 of this series.
*The Presser Foundation provides philanthropic support for music and music education, in keeping with the Will of its founder, Theodore Presser. We work to fund the musical arts in their many dimensions and manifestations, while striving to serve a broad and diverse community of musicians, educators, and music lovers.
The Presser Foundation is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, pro-active anti-racism, and anti-bigotry in all areas of music. We reject racism and bigotry in all their manifestations and seek to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in our processes, practices, and decisions.
Knowing that the power of music transcends words and speaks directly to the human experience, we understand how vitally important it is to renounce social and cultural injustices, to fight for social justice, and to work vigorously for a more humane and inclusive future. Music provides one of the strongest and most fertile platforms for accomplishing this mission, and we encourage everyone, including our grantees, their audiences, and their beneficiaries, to join us in this essential effort.
