North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
Advancing Equity and Inclusion
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
Indigo Innovation Group partnered with the NC Center for Nonprofits to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into operations, programs, and governance. The collaboration strengthened the Center’s capacity to dismantle systemic inequities and model equity-driven leadership.
About North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits is dedicated to strengthening the state’s nonprofit sector by fostering collaboration, providing resources, and driving systemic change. Through leadership and innovation, the Center empowers organizations to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion into their operations and programming to better serve North Carolina’s communities.
"Transforming equity into action across sectors."
"Modeling systemic change."
Challenge
The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits aimed to operationalize its 2020 Equity Statement by embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into its board, internal operations, and outward-facing programs. The challenge involved creating a comprehensive strategy to model systems change, address systemic inequities, and provide resources to nonprofits to advance their own EDI efforts.
Embedding EDI principles into operations was essential for systemic change.
Solution
Indigo Innovation Group collaborated with the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits to develop and implement a multi-faceted strategy for operationalizing EDI. Key initiatives included:
Board-Level Strategy: Worked with the Board Equity Committee to establish a three-year strategy and accountability measures for EDI implementation, including budget alignment and equity-focused governance practices.
Internal Operations: Guided the staff equity committee in conducting an internal audit of policies, procedures, and protocols to align with EDI values and identify areas for change.
Programmatic Strategy: Co-designed educational programming, tools, and resources for nonprofits across North Carolina to build capacity for dismantling systemic inequities.
Leadership and Coaching: Supported the CEO and leadership team in integrating EDI principles into organizational strategy and decision-making.
This collaborative approach ensured alignment between internal practices and the Center’s outward-facing mission to advance equity across the nonprofit sector.
Results
Through its partnership with Indigo Innovation Group, the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits achieved:
Development of a three-year board strategy with measurable EDI goals and accountability mechanisms.
Adoption of internal policies and practices aligned with EDI values to guide staff and operational decision-making.
Creation of EDI-focused resources and tools to empower nonprofits statewide.
Impact
Impact: The partnership with Indigo Innovation Group has equipped the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits to serve as a statewide leader in equity, diversity, and inclusion. By embedding EDI principles into every level of the organization, the Center is poised to drive systemic change and empower nonprofits to dismantle systemic inequities within their communities.
"Equity at the heart of leadership."
"Innovating for inclusion."
