Tech nonprofits: Take this survey to help the Philly startup community track its inclusivity efforts

For the past two falls, Philly Startup Leaders (PSL) has teamed up with Mogulette and other tech partners to host a diversity-focused event called Diversity Dinner.

Following, as Technical.ly Philly reporter Roberto Torres put it, “a frustration-driven discussion at last year’s Diversity Dinner” that was preceded by a very public argument and PSL’s executive director stepping down, leaders in the tech community have launched the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmark Survey to track demographics and attitudes of local technologists, founders, investors and executives — because you can’t fix a problem if you don’t know exactly what the problem is.

The lack of diversity in tech communities — including Philadelphia’s — has been well-documented. But locally, it hasn’t been measured. The short survey, hosted by Open Access Philly, asks demographic information of the respondent and their organization’s leadership, as well as their perception of their org’s culture. (Both for-profit companies and tech-related nonprofits are encouraged to participate.)

One question, for instance: “I believe my company’s belief in skill and potential applies to all people equally, regardless of their race, gender, sexual identity, ethnicity, veteran status or disability.”

Organizations with participating employees may also opt into diversity, equity and inclusion-focused workshops in the future “to identify specific areas for improvement.”

New-ish PSL Executive Director Kiera Smalls told us in March how the startup network planned to keep its programming and services inclusive following 2017’s fallout:

“We will continue to assess the needs of current and potential members and use that information to guide us forward. PSL has received great feedback regarding diversity and inclusion from people who care deeply about its success and I’m looking forward to digging into that feedback and working with the community, staff, and [Board] of Directors, on the best path forward.”

Looks like the org is keeping its promise.

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Full disclosure: Christopher Wink, Generocity parent company Technically Media’s cofounder and CEO, is on Philly Startup Leaders’ board. He was not involved in this report.