Our Mission
We are committed to a world that is more just, verdant, and peaceful.
The world is more just when actions are moral, rational, equitable, and fair–and when barriers are removed to provide equitable access, treatment, consideration, and opportunity. The world is more verdant, when the planet and its people flourish. The world is more peaceful, when people are free from fear, conflict, violence, and war.
Living Our Mission: The Just Imperative
We live our mission through the Just Imperative, which charges us to lead with a commitment to justice.
We believe that justice is the essential condition for human dignity, equitable opportunity, and shared prosperity.
The Just Imperative requires that we interrogate our decisions and actions to ensure that they enhance the conditions in which justice can thrive. We are focused on dismantling the structures, systems, and practices that uphold racism and produce unjust outcomes.
Values
The Just Imperative is grounded in our values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Diversity includes all the ways that people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another.
Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while also striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented full participation of some individuals and groups.
Inclusion is the act of creating authentic environments in which all individuals and groups can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate.
We apply an intersectional framework—taking into consideration how identities and characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and disability overlap—making some individuals vulnerable to multiple systems of oppression. The Just Imperative is centered on racial and ethnic equity.
Approach
Interrogating our decisions and actions in pursuit of racial and ethnic equity locally, nationally, and globally, requires us to acknowledge and tackle the pernicious effects of colonialism and racism in the structures, systems, power dynamics, and practices that perpetuate it.
We will work to create more inclusive communities in the United States, Nigeria, and India where our offices are located.
Areas of Focus
We commit to applying our values and the Just Imperative in all we do, including: our grantmaking; staffing and operations; Foundation culture and policies; Board composition; external outreach, access, and input; civil society leadership; and grantee and impact investee relationships.
Learn more about Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
It is a Journey
We understand this is a high standard, hard work, and a journey that does not end. It will require all of us to do the work at the individual, interpersonal, and systemic levels. We will not get it right every time; but what is important is the commitment and consistent efforts to incorporate the Just Imperative into our work and our lives.
Learn more about our initial and continuing updates on the Just Imperative.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Design and Build Approach