Mind the Gap: A DIY DEI Guide for Small Business Practitioners
Let’s name the gap.
👉 Budgets are shrinking. 👉 Expectations are staying the same.
You’re still being asked to:
- Track DEI outcomes—without the right systems.
- Lead ERGs—without the right support.
- Drive culture change—without the right funding.
This is the daily reality for DIY DEI leaders in small businesses.
And here’s the truth: You can’t build sustainable DEI systems on a symbolic budget.
In fact, a study by SHRM and Boston College found that 64% of organizations say DEI is important—yet 62% allocate little to no resources to it. That stark gap is exactly why DIY DEI solutions must be built around practical DEI support for busy teams, not idealistic frameworks.
Here’s the Shift
You don’t have to absorb the gap. You can start naming it.
When DEI is treated like a “nice-to-have,” it gets cut first. When DEI is treated like a business priority, it gets resourced like one.
If you’re leading DEI without a team, budget, or tools—you’re not failing. You’re being set up to struggle.
👉 You deserve a seat at the resource table—not just the values table.
The DIY DEI Playbook You Need
This week inside the Diversiology Practitioner Community, we’re launching the Mind the Gap: Strategic Resource Alignment Playbook.
It’s a practical DEI support tool for busy teams and DIY DEI leaders who are building inclusion without enough resources.
Inside the playbook, you’ll find frameworks to:
- Clarify what’s expected of you.
- Identify the people, budget, time, and tools you actually need.
- Pinpoint where resources don’t align with responsibilities.
- Lead smarter, data-driven resource conversations with leadership.
McKinsey’s Diversity Wins report proves that companies in the top quartile for gender and ethnic diversity are 25–36% more likely to outperform financially. But the catch is clear: diversity only drives results when supported by inclusion and systems. Otherwise, it becomes a check-the-box activity.
Stop absorbing the misalignment. Start naming it.
Join the Community. Build Smarter.
👉 Download the Mind the Gap Playbook
👉 Join the Diversiology Practitioner Community to connect with other DIY DEI leaders who are building smarter, not harder.
Because DIY DEI shouldn’t mean doing it alone.
