Why should I report on my organization’s demographics?
One of the great ways to demystify our work as nonprofits is to show what we’re made of: people. The golden-hearted individuals who devote their talents to foundations and nonprofits are the bedrock of our sector. What makes them unique is what makes our organizations unique.
Additionally, funders and researchers have shown a greater interest in nonprofit internal demographics over the years. By reporting this information, your organization can show a commitment to inclusion and be a trailblazer in this field.
Is demographic information required to earn a Seal of Transparency?
Demographic Leader information is required under Gold, however, the Board, Senior Staff and Staff Demographics are not required. These sections are voluntary, but we encourage you to complete as much as possible.
The Demographics section of your profile offers an extra opportunity to report on the makeup of your organization to put it ahead of the curve.
Check out the 2023 GuideStar Profile Standard for more information. It includes a helpful guide about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) information in the “Demographics of Your Organization” section.
How do I add demographic information to my nonprofit profile?
If you haven’t collected demographic information before, the best place to start is to create a survey for your staff and board. We recommend that you consult our Help Guide, which provides standard questions to add to your survey, along with best practices on how to distribute such a survey.
Finally, here is a “how to” guide for inputting the data gathered into our new demographics system.