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DEI SeattleCommunity of Practice
Practice tools/Community building

COMMUNITY BUILDING

ERG planning canvas

Give an employee resource group a clear purpose, sustainable workload, and meaningful support.

Define the purpose together

Separate the needs of members from the expectations of the organization. Write a clear purpose that the group can actually sustain.

Build a workable plan

Discuss capacity before creating a calendar. Employee resource groups should not be expected to carry organizational DEI work without recognition, resources, or authority.

  • Set two priorities with member input.
  • Agree on leadership roles and succession.
  • Name the executive sponsor and what support means.
  • Clarify budget, working time, and access needs.

Review without overburdening

Check whether members find value in the group, whether leaders can sustain the workload, and whether sponsorship removes barriers. Attendance alone does not explain impact.