Equity-Centered Strategy - Beyond Buzzwords

Because equity isn’t a line in a plan—it’s how the plan is made.

Let’s be honest—words like “equity,” “inclusion,” and “belonging” show up everywhere in nonprofit mission statements and strategic plans. And while the intent may be real, the follow-through often stops at the language.

I’ve worked with organizations that meant well. They believed in fairness, representation, and doing right by their communities. But when it came time to make decisions—about funding, programs, leadership, or even meeting structure—their equity commitments weren’t showing up in the process. And the truth is, I’ve been part of that, too. Earlier in my career, I often took my cues from the room—reading the energy, staying quiet, not wanting to be “the only one” always raising the flag. Sometimes it felt safer to frame equity as a consideration, not a foundation. Not because I didn’t believe in it—but because I’d internalized that it had to be brought up carefully, or not at all.

The shift, for me, came through experience—and through study. Working alongside leaders across healthcare, arts, and policy, I began to notice that equity-centered strategy isn’t just about what we’re trying to achieve. It’s also about how we’re working, who we’re involving, and what assumptions we’re willing to let go of.

What Equity-Rooted Strategy Looks Like

• Start at the Center, Not the Edges: Don’t treat equity like a footnote or a filter. Infuse it into how goals are shaped, whose voices are present, and what gets prioritized. If the same insiders are always setting direction, it’s time to widen the table—and make sure people aren’t just invited but truly heard.

• Move from Statement to Shift: Equity isn’t just about saying the right words—it’s about realignment. That could mean changing hiring practices, rethinking board recruitment, redesigning programs with community input, or redistributing power in decision-making. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be real.

• Measure What Matters Most: If equity is a core value, it deserves clear metrics—just like any strategic goal. That might look like tracking leadership diversity, closing service gaps, or measuring satisfaction from historically excluded communities. Equity without accountability drifts toward performance.

A Thought to Work With

Equity work is systems work, but it’s also deeply personal. It asks us to look inward, not just outward—to rethink how we lead, listen, and learn. So here’s a gentle prompt: Where in your strategy might equity still live in the margins? Pick one area—maybe recruitment, decision-making, or evaluation—and experiment with a shift from intention to practice.

By Kelli Bohannon, nonprofit strategist and founder of Equilibria Strategies.