WOMEN IN FUNDS
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT

Purpose
Women in Funds (“WIF”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (“DE&I”).  In furtherance of this goal, this Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mission Statement (the “Statement”) sets forth our commitment to DE&I principles.

We believe that a non-homogenous culture in the workplace is an important objective for many reasons.

  • The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our members invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and our achievement as well.

  • We embrace and encourage our members’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our members unique.

  • We believe that diversity in both leadership and the workforce is essential for maximizing mission effectiveness and impact and will assist us in attaining and maintaining the highest standards of excellence at Women in Funds.

Research demonstrates that organizations with a diverse workforce, especially within the senior management ranks, outperform their peers over time. 

Not only that, diverse organizations have shown themselves to be more capable than their counterparts in attracting top talent, developing stronger relationships, and improving decision-making and innovation.

We believe that incorporating and promoting diversity works to enhance the decision making and problem-solving processes, leading to better outcomes.

Diversity alone, however, is not sufficient to achieve these performance advantages.

We believe that organizations must recognize people’s differences and then take the next step to embrace these differences, celebrate them and facilitate connections and collaborations so that the power of diversity is amplified by an inclusive mindset. 

  • Diversity is defined broadly and refers to the range of similarities and differences in individual and organizational characteristics that shape our community.  These include national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, veteran status, political affiliation and family structure. The concept also encompasses other differences among people, including geographic differences and, importantly, diversity of thought and life experiences.[1]

  • Equity is recognizing diversity and identifying imbalances in order to eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups in order to help level the playing field.

  • Inclusion refers to a culture that connects each member to the organization; encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so that all members are able to participate and contribute to their full potential. [1]

Commitment

WIF’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; professional development and training; social and recreational programs; and the ongoing development of a virtual and in person environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces:

  • Respectful communication and cooperation between all members.

  • Teamwork and member participation, permitting the representation of all groups and member perspectives.

  • Contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for the diversity.

  • Open-mindedness and the inclination to re-examine our own implicit biases and beliefs.

All members of WIF have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times.  

All members are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during meetings, at meeting functions on or off the meeting site, and at all other WIF-sponsored and participative events.  All members are also encouraged to attend and complete annual diversity awareness training to enhance their knowledge to fulfill this responsibility.

We expect that our community will be an open forum where ideas and contributions from the members can be comfortably exchanged in a welcoming and respectful environment, even if there are differences of opinion at times.

Any member found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to disciplinary action. Members who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with this Statement should seek assistance from Laura Schnaidt.

 

[1] U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2020-2022