Change Starts Here

  • Published June 15, 2020

A message from Phil Hills, President & CEO, and Doug Stewart, Chairman of the Board

Over the last month, we have been forced to confront the ugly, yet difficult, truth about racism in America and around the globe. It has increasingly become more evident that we must accept and openly address the effects of 400 years of systemic racism and hatred in our country. No longer can we simply talk about change. We each must take action – as individuals and organizations – to do everything in our power to confront our own excuses and biases.

The recent incident in Central Park and the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, are but the most recent horrific manifestation of what happens every day to the community of color in our country.

Our black colleagues – and people of color more broadly – have been experiencing racism in their daily lives for centuries. We must not allow societal call for transformation to end after the media moves on. Now is the time to step-up our support, and more importantly, to take steps to ensure that we continue that support so we can truly effect long-term and sustainable change.

To that end, Marts & Lundy is strengthening our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Truthfully, we have a lot of work to do. It is critical to look inside of our own firm and take meaningful, concrete steps internally while also committing to help our clients embrace real and lasting change as part of their philanthropic and organizational goals.

We are committed to:

  • Accelerating our 2018 strategic plan to drive hiring practices that will apply DEI and specifically anti-racist principles to our recruitment by building talent pipelines that include more people of color and – as an employee-owned firm – ultimately increasing the number of shareholders of color at all levels of our organization, including management and our board.
  • Leading, internally, to strengthen a culture that is safe, positive, and welcoming by creating more inclusive and equitable practices to promote individual growth and engagement of our talented firm members.
  • Encourage clients to include diversity, equity, and inclusion engagement and monetary goals in all fundraising strategies to drive positive systemic long-term change.

It is time to speak up. It is time for change. It is time to get to work.