Who is being left out? Systemic injustices in charities’ approach to digital work

It’s been brilliant to have Charity Digital Skills Report as a contribution to Catalyst for the third year running. It’s the sector’s largest annual benchmark of digital progress, and the increasing reach and depth of insight gathered are a testament to the hard work of Zoe Amar and Nissa Ramsey in particular. 

While there has been a lot of interest in the AI headlines around the report, there’s another narrative around inclusion and justice that deserves just as much attention, if not more. 

This is a must-read for those interested in the power implications of digital work and decision-making.

Key stats tell a story

This year’s report shows that the sector’s approach to digital is exacerbating inequalities. This isn’t surprising as it occurs across all sectors in society. But it seems incongruent with the sector’s aspirations and commitment to addressing the issues around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 

Here are the key stats:

• 41% of Black led charities struggle to find a funder who will support a digital project, compared to 21% of the main sample and 25% of small charities
• 65% of Black led charities are struggling to find funds to invest in devices, software and infrastructure
• Only 15% of services are developed by diverse teams
• 30% are not doing user research with diverse groups
• Only 18% of charities felt it was very important that digital suppliers involve people with lived experience - less than 1 in 5
• Only 25% of digital services were informed by user research from diverse communities ‘to a great extent’ (a reduction from 28% last year)
• Similarly, just over a fifth of all digital services are accessible ‘to a great extent’ (which has dropped from 28% to 23% since last year)
• Only 33% of charities rate their digital services as highly inclusive
• Only 52% feel a commitment to diversity and inclusion was important when choosing digital suppliers
• Only 15% monitor diversity and inclusion extensively, and 31% are not doing this at all.

The sector’s digital divide

The data tells us that small charities struggle with digital the most as they have the least resources and capacity. These are also the organisations most typically led by people with lived experience or from marginalised groups.

Faced with a cost of living squeeze and misaligned funding, there is some way to go if the sector is to truly live its values in its digital work. But the good news is there are opportunities to change this.

Organisations working with marginalised groups need more support

These organisations, especially those tackling racial injustice and supporting older people, are prioritising digital inclusion the most. Funders could help them reduce the digital divide and empower the communities they work with. 

As Zoe Amar writes in her recent blog post,

“What makes this inequity even worse is that charities led by specific marginalised groups have exciting ambitions for digital. For example, 91% of neurodivergent-led charities are small but are digitally progressive. 51% are advancing or advanced digitally, compared to 36% of all small charities.

In addition, d/Deaf disabled-led charities are largely small and at early stages with digital, yet 87% see digital as a top organisational priority. However, they are struggling with squeezed finances (72%) and need funding for capacity (62%).

Think of the innovation – and the incredible impact – these charities could achieve if they were funded and supported properly.”

Start using data better now

Data helps inform decision making. It also helps charities know whether they are reaching people equitably. 

For the third of charities not yet engaging with data, or using it to inform decision making, they can think about data in a decolonial way from the start.

Implement basic user research methods

It’s great to see some organisations co-designing digital services with users. But we need to ask who is being left out? 

Those not yet embarking on user research (68%) also have a chance to ensure that when they do, it is done with diverse groups and in a non-extractive way, with principles like shared value in mind. This needs funders’ understanding and support. 

At Catalyst, we’ve been iterating a reciprocity guide to help put this into practice. 

Everyone: review how digital intersects with your DEI goals

This is a chance for all sector organisations to review their priorities around digital and look at how it intersects with their diversity and inclusion goals. To remember who ultimately the work is for, bring the 'digital transformation' and 'power transformation' agendas together, and in doing so, stop further entrenching and exacerbating inequalities.

Any thoughts?

If you have any questions or thoughts, comment on our LinkedIn post.

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