In July 2020, Mission Partners published our first Race Equity Action Plan, outlining our commitments to advancing racial equity in our business, client work, and the world. Since then, we have updated this living document, expanding and refining our approach as we continue our journey toward a more just and equitable world and documenting our actions made in service of our commitments. Today, we release the 2024 edition of what is now called our Equity Action Plan. 

This updated plan reflects our expanded commitment to addressing equity holistically, acknowledging the connections between racial, economic, environmental, and social justice. While our dedication to racial equity remains central, we recognize that it is intertwined with other dimensions of identity, including gender, physical ability, and national origin. We have broadened our focus to ensure that every aspect of equity is considered and addressed in our actions. Our work as a Certified B Corporation™ continues to be informed by the belief that businesses must actively challenge systems of oppression to create truly fair and equitable outcomes. 

Mission Partners works strategically and collaboratively to advance equity goals in three key areas: in our business, in our client work, and in the world. 

In Our Business 

At Mission Partners, we believe equity starts within. Since 2018, we’ve been committed to embedding an equity lens into every aspect of our business operations, paying a living wage for all employees, and ensuring fair pathways to leadership for all. In 2024, we’re building on this foundation with key updates to our policies and practices: 

• We’ve made strides in pay transparency, publishing our pay differential ratio, which currently stands at 1-5 times between our lowest and highest-paid employees. 

• Our benefits package has been enhanced to include more holistic time-off policies, extended mental health support, and a retirement plan that aligns with our values of equity and sustainability. 

• We’ve expanded our staff working groups, empowering employees to lead several internal impact initiatives that guide our progress toward equity. 

In Our Client Work 

Mission Partners is grounded in a commitment to support clients in addressing systemic inequities. Our focus remains working with organizations that prioritize equity in their missions and operations. We are committed to advancing equitable practices with every client by: 

• Challenging systems of oppression within our clients’ work, including policies and structures that perpetuate inequities. 

• Continuing to provide pro bono services to Black- and women-led organizations. As of 2023, we have provided more than $1M in pro bono services since our founding. 

• Expanding our partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups to help create lasting, meaningful change. In 2023, we partnered with more than 40 organizations across various issue areas, from civic engagement to public health. 

In the World 

Our Equity Action Plan also includes a commitment to making broader impact beyond our business and clients. In 2023, we reached 82% of our goal to invest $2.5 million in Black- and women-led organizations by 2025. Our broader goals include: 

• Launching and expanding our Social Entrepreneur in Residence program, an 18-month executive-level initiative designed to shift capital and create pathways for Black-led communications firms. 

• Ensuring that more than 65% of Mission Partners’ vendors are women-owned businesses, including five organizations identifying as Black-led, African-American-led, or Person of Color-led. 

• Increasing our investments in socially responsible vendors and aligning all major supplier relationships with our equity commitments. 

• Building partnerships with organizations, such as our three-year investment in Generation Hope, to foster collaboration and growth. 

What’s Next 

The 2024 edition of our Equity Action Plan represents our continued commitment to this journey. We understand that advancing equity is not a destination but an ongoing practice. As we move forward, we are dedicated to deepening our commitments, learning from our experiences, and inviting others to join us in this critical work. 

This plan remains a living document, evolving as we continue to reflect, learn, and act on our commitments. It serves as both a public measure of our progress and an internal accountability reminder of the work that lies ahead toward our vision of justice and equity for all. We invite you to download the full 2024 Equity Action Plan to learn more about our actions and progress and encourage you to explore how you can adopt equitable practices in your own work and community. 

Carrie Fox, Bridget Pooley, Brian Fox, Deb Ferrin