DEI Data Standard

Issue:
Grant-making practices
 • 
Diversity, equity and inclusion
 • 
Activities:
Influencing policy or practice
 • 
Aligning processes
 • 
Location:
UK-wide
Stage:
Existing collaboration

Aims and activities

Aims and questions

Aims and activities

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Data Standard was created by an independent working group of UK funders who believe that without an effective framework to capture DEI data there can be no effective action to identify and target funding to address structural inequalities.

A shared framework (classification, language and approach) aims to categorise organisations either led by, or targeting and supporting groups experiencing structural inequity.

There are three elements to this framework.

  1. The taxonomy which is the classification system – i.e. what are the groupings of charitable organisations that we might use when asking questions or reporting on results. The taxonomy is generic and can be applied to different contexts.
  2. The approach to applying those groupings to organisations and projects, i.e. do the categories relate to the project, the organisation, or the leadership of the organisations, and the definitions of those areas. This is the context for use of the taxonomy.
  3. Guidance to support the consistency of application by funders. This will make it easier for applicants to grant programmes to be asked the questions in a similar way, and for funders to benchmark and compare their programmes.

The Standard was updated in December 2022.

How to get involved

The DEI Data Standard has been implemented by a number of funders since launching in October 2021 as part of their application process. The group continues to meet quarterly and is open to all funders, including grant-makers and social investors.

If you are a funder and would like to know more about the DEI Data Group or discuss how you can get involved, please contact Josh Cockcroft, Co-Chair of the DEI Data Group.

If you wish to propose a change to the DEI Data Standard, please use this form.

Who's involved

Who was involved

Who was involved

This collaboration currently involves the following organisations: Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, John Ellerman Foundation, The Forge, Garfield Weston Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Tudor Trust, Big Society Capital, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Big Issue Invest, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Power to Change, BBC Children in Need, SIB Group, Henry Smith Charity, Quartet Community Foundation, Indigo Trust, Barts Charity, Nesta, PRS Foundation, Arts Council England, UK Community Foundations, John Lyon’s Charity, Mission44, Trust for London, London Community Foundation, Comic Relief, Bell Foundation, NPC, The Social Impact Consultancy, People’s Health Trust, 360Giving, Blagrave Trust, NFP Synergy. 

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