Our Story

1. Businesses  

Mission Alignment with Cultural Values 

● Does the business’s charitable giving align with the cultural, social, or community needs of the group it supports?
Example: A Black-owned business donates a portion of its profits to support initiatives for Black youth education, LGBT population with a safe inclusive space or a Latino-owned restaurant funds community health programs in Latino neighborhoods. 

Cultural Group Identity and Representation 

● Is the business itself part of a specific cultural, ethnic, or social group, and does it actively serve or represent that community?
Example: An immigrant-owned business that supports immigrant rights, or a women-owned business that creates opportunities for women in leadership. 

Engagement with Diverse Communities 

● Does the business’s giving promote inclusivity, supporting multiple cultural or ethnic groups through its philanthropy?
Example: A multicultural café that partners with different ethnic groups and charities to support local artists or sponsors events that uplift underrepresented communities. 

Collaboration and Partnership 

● Does the business collaborate with cultural organizations, local groups, or international initiatives to maximize its impact?
Example: A business working with Indigenous cultural groups to promote traditional crafts, or a company partnering with a non-profit that addresses educational disparities in a specific cultural community. 

Impact and Outreach 

● Does the business measure the impact of its donations or support on the communities it serves, and does it have a broader cultural or societal reach? Example: A social enterprise that sponsors programs addressing systemic inequality or a company that helps promote the global visibility of a cultural movement. 

Reflection of Cultural Identity and Authenticity.

● Does the business ensure its charitable contributions are rooted in authentic cultural practices, and avoid exploitation or appropriation?
Example: A business that sponsors art exhibitions or projects that authentically represent the culture without exploiting it for commercial gain, such as supporting Indigenous artists or African craftspeople. 

2. Non-Profits
Mission Alignment with Cultural Values 

● Does the non-profit’s mission support and promote the cultural, social, or community needs of the group it serves?
Example: A non-profit dedicated to preserving Indigenous languages, or one focused on cultural exchange programs for underserved immigrant communities. 

Community Involvement and Support 

● Is the non-profit led by members of the community or culture it seeks to support, ensuring relevance and authenticity?
Example: A non-profit focused on providing educational opportunities for minority youth, co-created and led by members of those communities, ensuring cultural relevance. 

Educational and Awareness Value 

● Does the non-profit provide educational resources or initiatives that raise awareness about cultural issues or promote cultural heritage?
Example: A non-profit offering workshops on traditional art forms or language preservation to pass down cultural knowledge to future generations. 

Longevity and Sustainability 

● Does the non-profit’s work show long-term cultural relevance and sustainability? Example: A non-profit running annual cultural festivals for decades, or one integrating traditional ecological knowledge into modern-day environmental conservation efforts. 

Impact and Outreach 

● Has the non-profit shown measurable impact within its target community or beyond, addressing significant cultural or societal challenges?
Example: A non-profit that successfully lobbied for changes in policy to protect cultural heritage or one helping address systemic social justice issues like access to education for marginalized groups. 

3. Events or Gatherings with Cultural Focus or Social Relevance 

● Does the event commemorate or raise awareness about a significant historical or cultural moment?
Example: An event marking the anniversary of a significant cultural or social event, such as Black History Month celebrations or Native American Heritage Month events. 

Engagement with Diverse Communities 

● Is the event inclusive, featuring or representing multiple cultural perspectives or groups? 

Example: A festival celebrating global music, food, and art, representing diverse ethnic groups, or an event featuring performances by artists from marginalized communities. 

Collaboration and Partnership 

● Does the event collaborate with cultural institutions, organizations, or leaders to enhance its cultural authenticity and impact?
Example: A cultural event that partners with local museums, schools, or non-profits to create educational programming and cultural outreach. 

Artistic or Cultural Expression 

● Does the event showcase cultural art, music, or performances that reflect the cultural identities of the groups involved?
Example: A music festival featuring traditional performances, or a theater production dedicated to stories from underrepresented cultural groups like Hispanic or African communities. 

Reflection of Cultural Identity and Authenticity 

● Does the event respect and authentically reflect the cultural traditions it represents, avoiding exploitation or cultural appropriation?
Example: A food festival that showcases authentic recipes and dishes from different cultural traditions, sourced and prepared by people from those cultures, ensuring authentic representation. 

Community Involvement and Support 

   ● Is the event supported by the community it aims to represent, either through attendance, contributions, or co-organization?
Example: A local cultural fair co-created with members of the community, ensuring that the cultural representation is accurate and meaningful, or an event that is actively led by community members. 

Summary of Key Points for Each Category: 

• ●  Businesses should focus on authentic, measurable impact through long-term partnerships with cultural groups, ensuring their contributions promote sustainability, inclusion, and community engagement.
   
• ●  Non-Profits should ensure their missions directly support the cultural needs and historical relevance of the communities they serve, with educational initiatives, community-led involvement, and cultural sustainability.
   
• ●  Events should offer inclusive, diverse programming that celebrates cultural traditions, maintains authenticity in its presentation, while fostering local involvement and promoting awareness of cultural issues.
   

Overall Reflection

This Culturally Significant Checklist aims to evaluate the cultural integrity of businesses, non-profits, and events by focusing on their connection to cultural identities, values, and communities. Whether a business represents a specific cultural group or engages in philanthropy supporting marginalized communities, whether a non-profit works to preserve cultural traditions or address social justice issues, or whether an event is authentically showcasing and respecting cultural heritage, the ultimate goal is to ensure genuine impact, authentic representation, and long-term sustainability for the communities they serve. 

Culture is a complex and ever-evolving concept, shaped by history, traditions, values, and the unique experiences of different communities. It can encompass language, art, rituals, social norms, and even ways of thinking, making it difficult to define in a single, universal way. Because of its dynamic nature, we recognize that no single definition can capture all its dimensions. If you have an idea or perspective that you believe should be included in our criteria for defining culture, we invite you to submit your suggestion here. Your input will help us create a more inclusive and representative understanding of what culture means.