August 16, 2021

By: Henry Malone

The term “equity” is defined as the fair and impartial treatment of all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. However, for as widespread of a population that equity tries to treat, too often such demographics are limited by their backgrounds and not provided the same equal access to opportunity as others.

That is exactly what President Biden is trying to address in his presidency, signing Executive Order 13985, in which he announced his pledge to advance and support racial equity and those in underserved communities through the federal government. 

In it, Biden emphasizes that equal opportunity is the bedrock of the American Dream and democracy, but that the country hasn’t done its part historically to give back to its deeply diverse population.  He further adds that advancing equity requires a systematic approach in implementing fairness in the decision-making processes of executive departments and agencies to remove some of those roadblocks that prevent equality of opportunity, as well as further analyzing other possible systemic barriers that can be redressed through new policies.

200 days after the initial signing of the Executive Order (by Aug. 8, 2021), all federal agencies must submit an assessment on the state of equity for underserved communities and individuals to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine what barriers exist for underserved communities to take advantage of the benefits and services in Federal programs and agency contracting opportunities, and whether new policies are required to surpass such barriers. 

Some of those barriers, for example, could include non-traditional or inflexible work hours, childcare needs, housing insecurity, limited transportation access, limited proficiency in English, disability, low literacy, income or other resource constraints, stigma in accessing public programs, and limited access to technology. 

On the policy side of the equation, agencies must determine whether there are any unnecessary questions or requirements to produce documentation, complex eligibility formulas, forms or web applications that are confusingly designed, complicated instructions, long delays between application and adjudication, and the need for third-party (e.g., an advocacy organization, legal counsel) support or consultation.

The due date for the development of specific plans by each agency is within a year of the original Executive Order, so by at least Jan. 19, 2021, these agencies should have an idea of what they’re aiming to do to address any barriers to racial and other kinds of equity.

Such adjustments could not only reduce the longstanding disparity in access to opportunity in the United States, but might also result in massive economic growth in the short term. According to  economic analysis, closing racial gaps in wages, housing credit, lending opportunities, and access to higher education would amount to an additional $5 trillion in gross domestic product in the American economy over the next 5 years. 

So what does this all mean? Well, the federal government is investing significant resources into identifying the root causes of racial inequity with the hope of leveling the playing field in the future. However, the government’s efforts cannot be the lone force in addressing racial equity. All organizations, businesses, nonprofits, etc. should follow suit as well, identifying racial inequities that may exist within their communities and developing strategies to help effectively confront the issue.

Clear Impact’s Scorecard and Compyle tools  allow for tracking of individual metrics, such as equity initiatives and programming. For more information on how Clear Impact can help you foster greater racial equity within your agency or organization, visit this link.

About the Author:

Henry Malone received his B.A. in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2021. There, he served as Deputy Editor for the University newspaper, the Testudo Times. As a marketing and journalism intern for Clear Impact, Henry researches, writes, and edits website content and news articles focusing on the nonprofit and public sectors.