Our Values

Our Vision:

Xlerate envisions a nonprofit sector where professionals in fundraising, communications, and marketing are equipped with the latest knowledge and empowered to drive meaningful change. We strive for inclusive and equitable practices, combining knowledge of cutting-edge marketing techniques with critical discussions on equity and decolonization. Through our efforts, we aim to maximize social impact, prioritize justice, and transform the nonprofit landscape.

Our Mission:

Our mission at Xlerate is to support individuals working in nonprofit organizations in the fields of fundraising, communications, and marketing. We strive to provide folks with the necessary knowledge and tools to advance the missions of the organizations they serve. This includes staying up-to-date with current marketing trends, such as digital marketing, integrated marketing, and the utilization of AI and data-driven strategies.

However, we also recognize the importance of engaging in meaningful discussions about the intersection of our work as fundraisers and the need for decolonization within the nonprofit sector. Decolonization refers to the process of challenging and dismantling the structures and systems of power that perpetuate colonialist ideologies and practices.

By addressing the topic of decolonization, we acknowledge the historical context and power dynamics that shape the nonprofit sector. We understand that our work as fundraisers and marketers is influenced by broader social, cultural, and historical factors. Therefore, we believe it is essential to have open and thoughtful conversations about decolonization and its implications for our sector.

By combining our focus on current marketing strategies with a commitment to decolonization discussions, we aim to equip nonprofit professionals with a holistic understanding of their work. This approach will empower them to navigate the evolving landscape of marketing while actively challenging and transforming oppressive systems within their organizations and the sector as a whole.

Our Values

We wholeheartedly support the good work of the social profit sector, but we also want to do this work while elevating our values.

We don’t discriminate against people because of their race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, personal appearance, physical or mental health, or physical ability. We believe you don’t have to choose between doing your work and being inclusive. We believe in kindness. We try to own our mistakes and learn from them. We value openness, difference and inclusion. We believe in authentic participation of those with intersecting identities, and we try to amplify the voices of all people in the communities we work in, particularly when looking at committee members, speakers and sessions. We believe in being transparent about living up to these values, and we welcome feedback.

To this effect we have adopted the following specific values for Xlerate Day.

Xlerate is decentering whiteness and challenging dominant culture norms: The agenda, speaker line-up, timing and topics are all designed to decenter whiteness and create an inclusive and equitable learning space.We have tried to create a diverse planning committee.

We have a specific goal for ourselves to have no session to be run only by folks representing dominant culture e.g. white, straight, able cis-het men. It’s not that these folks are not invited to speak. They still are. It’s that they can’t be the only type of person speaking at a session: those who have historically been over-represented need to share the space and deliberate space needs to be created for this.

We are committed to offer optional compensation to speakers, especially caregivers and underrepresented folks who may experience more barriers preventing them from sharing their knowledge at this conference.

Xlerate will attempt to recruit a well rounded group of attendees: 80% of the top positions at nonprofits and foundations are led by white people.* We are marketing this event to a diverse range of fundraising and communication professionals in the non-profit sector to promote a diversity of attendees which in turn gives us the diversity of perspectives that will create a new type of learning space.

Xlerate will consider the land on which the event takes place: We will recognise the past and present of the land on which the event takes place and seek input about how to best recognise our use of this space

Xlerate is accessible: we are working to build out an accessible in person event. This includes selecting a venue that takes into account different accessibility needs and liaising with attendees and speakers to understand accessibility needs we may not have considered that should be accommodated. Gender neutral bathroom space will be available. A quiet room for nursing parents and those who require accommodations for religious observances or for other reasons will be available for the duration of the event.

We are offering tiered pricing to reach folks with different employment statuses as well as different access levels to professional development funds

Xlerate is responsive: We are here to listen to attendees. Before the event, we will collect input on needs for the event. During the event we will have a designated person for feedback and accessibility requirements. After the event we will collect and commit to review feedback in different formats from attendees including optional demographic information to understand who attended.

Xlerate will cater for different learning styles: Not everyone learns in the same way. Consideration of the diversity of the audience is key to the success of the learning experience. We will provide information for speakers and session facilitators on how to conduct an inclusive learning experience and offer a variety of learning modalities.

If you think we are missing something or could do better, please let us know. We’re learning as we go, and none of us is even close to perfect.

With significant gratitude to the resources provided by the Comnet DEI initiative for helping to inform these values.