Progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Below is information regarding initiatives, projects, and programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Ongoing Initiatives

  • GFOA scholarship for minority students
  • Identified diversity as part of selection criteria for GFOA Executive Board
  • Intentional effort to recruit diverse volunteers for GFOA committees, trainers, speakers, and appointed representatives

Understanding Current Diversity

  • Effort to measure diverse candidates as part of application process
  • Effort to measure diversity of GFOA membership

Racial Equity Task Force

Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, GFOA created a Racial Equity Task Force formed in response to provide an opportunity for GFOA to lead on "calling out unfair discrimination of any kind." This task force provides a safe place for employees to share their feelings about current events related to racial injustice.

#ENDTHEACRONYM

In March of 2021, GFOA launched the #ENDTHEACRONYM campaign asking all industry affiliates to stop using the four-letter acronym commonly associated with the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

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Research to Explore Equity and Finance

GFOA released reports focused on rethinking police budgeting as well as financial policies for imposed fees, fines, and asset forfeitures, which calls on a local government's revenue system to treat people fairly.

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Diversity Dashboard

In partnership with CivicPulse and ELGL, GFOA released new data on the gender composition of finance and budgeting officials for over 21,000+ local governments in the United States that points to an important pipeline opportunity for women leadership in local government.

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DEI Committee Formed

In November of 2021, the Executive Board DEI Committee was formed. This was established as an advisory body to champion and prioritize DEI within the Board, membership, and GFOA.

Additional Steps

Strategic Partnerships

GFOA formed partnerships with National Forum for Black Public Administrators and Local Government Hispanic Network to further diversity goals.

Amended GFOA Bylaws to include DEI

ARTICLE IX 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

GFOA will promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) in the government finance profession, and within GFOA, and the Executive Board, or its designee(s), may from time to time adopt policies to further those goals.

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