Non-Profit Organizations
A variety of non-profit organizations use the IDI for individual and small team development to improve intercultural competency.
Case Studies
The Bush Foundation
Goal
To work towards their purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving, the Bush Foundation knew building intercultural competence would be key to meeting their goals of making the region better for everyone. They first started their work with the IDI to improve the Foundation’s ability to be inclusive and effective in its grantmaking, operations, outreach, and partnerships. This specific work took place during a wide range of internal and external strategic and operational changes. Building on their earlier IDI project, the foundation is now refreshing their overall approach to internal equity work and plans to again use the IDI to help staff understand their own views and tendencies and to provide an organization-wide view of the same.
Approach
The Bush Foundation first engaged with the IDI in 2014 as a first step on a deep equity journey. The goal was to get a baseline understanding of the group’s approach towards cultural differences. They engaged a long-term consulting partner to administer the IDI to all employees and to review the aggregate organization-wide IDI data. Follow-up steps included Action Learning Teams to revamp equity-centered policies and practices with staff from across the foundation. Although there have been significant changes in strategy and staffing since the initial project started, the organization is continuing to build on their progress and incorporate new perspectives from new hires.
Outcomes
The Foundation’s progress with the IDI was evident in the group’s movement from Minimization to Acceptance. Their progress is also reflected in a wide variety of activities related to both their internal operations (vendor diversity, holiday schedules, event planning, pay equity and compensation philosophy) and issues that bridge both internal and external work, such as productively recognizing power dynamics with grantees, incorporating community views into strategic review of their work, and continuing to bring curiosity and awareness to all their interactions. The developmental frame of the IDI – recognizing that each person’s learning and growth are always a work in progress – continues to be one of the most important grounding concepts for the Foundation.
- Create shared language as well as identify and implement learning topics related to the group’s IDI results
- Learn and practice how to recognize and work within different communication and conflict styles
- Revise organization polices like bereavement leave, holidays, and grantee selection processes
- Incorporate individual action towards equity and inclusion into each person’s work plan
- Create an internal equity team to serve as champions for continued learning and development
Recognition
Other Case Studies
Interested in ways the IDI has been used in other settings? Explore our other compelling case studies that feature a variety of approaches to using the IDI.
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