Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Data Standard 

At the Co-op Foundation, we are committed to creating Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive communities – it’s one of our strategic priorities. We believe we should be inclusive in terms of who and how we fund.  

To ensure that our efforts are impactful and aligned with our values, we have adopted the DEI Data Standard, a framework that helps us monitor and improve the equity of our funding practices. The DEI Data Standard was created by a group of independent funders. They are committed to using the same method for collecting data on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to better understand how funding reaches groups or communities facing systemic inequities. You can read more about how the DEI Data Standard was developed here.  

What language we use  

We recognise that categorising people and communities can sometimes reduce individual identities to broad labels, which may not fully capture the complexity of lived experiences. Our goal is to respect how individuals and communities describe themselves, so we will always strive to use the terms they identify with. 

When describing inequities, we use collective terms that reflect the experiences of those affected. For instance, we may use the term “communities experiencing racial inequity” to describe people facing inequity due to their race or ethnicity. Additionally, we will recognise the interplay of various identities, for example “women experiencing racial inequity,” to capture these intersecting experiences.  

How we classify our data 

To assess and track progress on how equitable our funding is, we use the DEI Data Standard to classify our data based on the following: 

• The communities that an organisation is targeting or supporting: by this we mean that 75% or more of the people receiving support or who are intentionally being targeted share a particular identity or lived experience. 

•  An organisation’s leadership (the key decision-makers): we define an organisation as being ‘led by’ a particular category when 75% or more of the Board/Management Committee AND 50% of senior staff share a particular identity or experience, where staff exist.  

• An organisation’s mission: by this, we mean any specific groups or communities that are included in your constitution. 

To support organisations in improving DEI within their organisation, including the diversity and inclusion of their board of trustees, senior leadership and teams, we have curated a resource document that provides a wide range of relevant guidance, toolkits, reports, training and further support organisations.  

Collecting and using  DEI Data 

We piloted our DEI data standard form and process in 2021 for one of our funded programs. In July 2024, we reviewed and rolled out the DEI data standard to collect data from existing funded organisations to better understand how equitable our existing funding is.  

All future applicants will be asked to complete a DEI monitoring form during the application stage of a funding program. This form allows organisations to select categories and sub-categories that apply to the communities they support and their leadership. 

See a sample DEI monitoring form. 

When we publish information about our grants, such as on platforms like 360Giving’s GrantNav or as part of the Racial Justice Audit, we will include partner data on the communities supported, the leadership of the organisation, and its mission. This transparency helps us and the wider community understand who our funding is reaching and where improvements may be needed. 

If you have any questions about the data we are gathering or what we are doing to improve our diversity, equity and inclusion, do get in touch by emailing:  foundation@coop.co.uk. 

FAQs 

Will the information I share be used to assess my application? 

All applications are assessed in line with our strategy and funding-specific criteria. Where the DEI Datta Standard information will be used as part of the assessment, this will be indicated explicitly in the form. 

How were the categories in the DEI Data Standard form chosen? 

The categories were developed through in-depth research and analysis, including feedback from third sector organisations. We understand that no list can be exhaustive, so we include free text options for applicants to share additional relevant information.  

What do you mean by ‘lived experience’? 

By ‘lived experience,’ we mean the knowledge a person gains from going through situations personally, such as dealing with problems or unfair treatment. These personal experiences shape how they understand the world and form their opinions because they come from what they have faced directly.  

What if my organisation does not meet your definition of ‘led by’ a community or group of people with a shared aspect of their identity?

We recognise that not all organisations will fit neatly into our definitions. You can provide additional context in the free text boxes within the DEI Data Standard form, explaining how lived experience influences your organisation’s leadership and mission. We also have additional questions at the end of the form to capture your organisation’s approach to diversity.