Many nonprofit organizations are still grappling with how to address diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) policies — more than a year after protests erupted nationwide after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer.

And that work still matters, according to nearly 70 percent of about 450 nonprofit employees who responded to a recent Not-for-profit News survey about how they’re coping in the aftermath of one of the most tumultuous years in the nation’s history.

When asked if their organization’s stance on DEI personally impacts them as an employee, 30 percent responded it impacts them “a great deal,” 42 percent said it impacted them “somewhat,” and 28 percent responded “not at all.”

However, based on the survey responses, employees also said that their employers likely think that they are doing better than they actually are — or at least in comparison to how the employees perceived they were progressing with DEI issues.

When asked, “What do you think your leadership would say about your organization’s progress on DEI?,” nearly 35 percent of employees responded that their leaders probably would feel that the work isn’t new — “we have always valued inclusion and equity.” About 34 percent said that their employees would believe that they “are having some hard conversations and making important changes,” while nearly 24 percent said their leadership probably would feel that “we are talking about it but not doing anything, not doing much.”

In contrast, employees’ perceptions about that question, “What do you think about your organization’s progress on DEI?” was as follows:

The pandemic continues to provide organizations and their employees the opportunity to rethink whether they should return to a five-day work week in the office versus spending more time in a virtual environment.

In LinkedIn's year-end roundup of workplace trends to watch in 2021, Harvard Business School's Ashley Whillans predicted that companies will need to accommodate employees who have adjusted to a new routine: " Employees will demand greater flexibility and organizations will require it. Companies may let employees work from home two or more days per week, with some opting for three days in office, two days remote, and then two days off — a 3-2-2 workweek.”

To support this new hybrid work schedule, the latest in basic banking systems will allow employees to manage finances without being tied to the office. First, digital conveniences such as online banking have provided remote capabilities for years. Treasurers can safely log into their accounts via smartphone or laptops to review balances, to view history of posted transactions, to transfer funds between accounts, to submit any stop payments, or to approve any fraud suspects that surfaced as a result of Positive Pay service.

Also, since many not-for-profits continue receive checks from donors, employees can easily deposit them into a bank account using mobile check deposit through an app. This process is very efficient for organizations that receive a relatively low volume of checks.

For not-for-profit organizations that use “Donate Here” buttons on their websites, donors can safely make one-time or repeat donations via credit card without the not-for-profit organization needing to be in direct contact with the donor. In addition, other not-for-profit organizations accept credit cards at events, despite the continued presence of the pandemic.

With today’s not-for-profit professionals juggling more priorities than ever, time is at a premium. That’s why Barnes Dennig has hosted a series of concise workshops designed to answer key questions to challenges not-for-profits are facing across a broad range of topics. The following include recaps of the sessions as well as links to access the full recordings:

Everyone is at risk to falling prey to ransomware, whether it’s their home office computer or a major oil pipeline company. But the more prepared you are for an attack, the more likely you are to avoid it. In this session, Robert Ramsay, Barnes Dennig director and cybersecurity specialist, shares how to best protect yourself and your organization. Highlights include:

Download the presentation and watch the full recording here.

Maybe you’re ready to implement the new lease accounting standard today. Maybe it’s still at the bottom of your never-ending to-do list. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, Brad Sack, Barnes Dennig senior manager and NFP assurance specialist, covers the basics, using real-life examples and experiences from his clients to provide insights. Here is an overview of the session:

Download the presentation and watch the full recording here.

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana has received a $250,000 grant from Lumina Foundation to support its collaboration with Bloomington-based Cook Medical. As part of that partnership, Goodwill will operate a new medical device manufacturing facility. The initiative is expected to create 100 jobs. Learn more.

What does diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) work entail? As part of IBJ’s Thought Leadership roundtable, leaders at Cook Group, Indiana University and the IU McKinney School of Law discussed their perspectives on DEI, including removing barriers and integrating it into day-to-day practices. Learn more.

Renew Indianapolis Inc. has announced the creation of the Trent L. Garrett Fellowship, a program that will help recipients gain real estate experience and build leadership skills. The two-year program is named in honor of one of the organization’s long-time board members. Learn more.

Spirit & Place has launched SPACE FINDER, a crowd-sourced, online database to help nonprofits, planners, associations and others find venues for various events, including meetings, retreats, exhibits, performances and weddings. To register a venue for free, go to the Spirit & Place website.

Heartland Film has released the lineup for the 30th anniversary of the Heartland International Film Festival. The event will feature nearly 130 films, including 10 world premieres and nine U.S. premieres, and will include in-person and virtual screenings. Visit

The International Center recently presented the 2021 International Citizen of the Year award to Dan Coats during its annual award dinner. Coats, former director of National Intelligence of the United States, was honored for his influence in international policy. Andrea Richter-Garry, vice president of international engagement for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, was honored with the center’s Global Impression Award. Read

Intro to foundation directory online on Oct. 7 from 2-4 p.m. at the Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., Attendees will learn how to research and evaluate potential grantmakers in the Foundation Directory Online. Hosted by Indianapolis Public Library. Masks are required. Cost: Free. Register

Leadership United, United Way of Central Indiana's comprehensive community leadership and board member development program, is accepting applications for its January-March 2022 cohort. Qualified candidates include corporate and community leaders seeking to deepen their skills as nonprofit board members. Application deadline is Oct. 8. Program cost: $1,600. Apply

Powerful conversations on race: Religious life, spirituality, and racial identity virtual conversation on Oct. 10 from 3-5 p.m. Part of a monthly series, this session provides an environment to get comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics. Active participation is expected. Hosted by Spirit and Place Festival. Cost: Free. Register

Fearless asking: How to build an individual giving program workshop on Oct. 16 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Gain an understanding of the current fundraising environment, and how to overcome fears about asking for the support your nonprofit needs. Hosted by Indianapolis Public Library. Masks are required. Cost: Free. Register

Developing an effective board of directors workshop on Oct. 16 from 2-4 p.m. Learn the basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards and identify methods for improving board effectiveness. Hosted by Indianapolis Public Library. Masks are required. Cost: Free. Register

Setting vision and strategy webinar on Oct. 20 from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Learn the four essential pillars of nonprofit organizational health and how to apply strategic planning best practices in each. Offered by Hedges, with presenting sponsors Faegre Drinker and Katz, Sapper and Miller and supporting sponsor FirstPerson Advisors. Cost: $60. Register

ACE Prep, a K-5, literacy-focused, Midtown-Indy charter school is searching for board members. Contact John Shertzer johnshertzer@gmail.com if you are interested.

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