The Truth About DEI – Is Your Institution Really Committed?

DEI is under attack! Some say it’s “racist.” Others argue it’s necessary for progress. But what’s the real story? Here’s what they’re not telling you: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) isn’t just about race. It includes gender, disability, socioeconomic background, and access to opportunity. At times, DEI even benefits white men, yet some institutions are quietly rolling back these initiatives under political pressure.

Some institutions are doubling down on their DEI commitments. Others are quietly erasing them. Who’s doing what? Let’s hold institutions accountable.

Check An Institution's Score

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What is the BRAG Score?

BRAG (Bias Research Accountability Grade), is a standardized evaluation framework designed to assess the ethical integrity, transparency, and equity of research institutions, clinical trials, and advocacy organizations. It also gives the public an easy way to view DEI rollbacks.is a powerful evaluation system designed to assess universities, hospitals, clinical trials, advocacy groups, and nonprofits based on their commitment to equity, transparency, and ethical research practices. We provide a clear, data-driven rating that helps patients, researchers, and advocates make informed decisions about where to seek care, participate in studies, or support organizations.

How Does the BRAG Score Work?

Each institution is evaluated based on at least five key categories:

BIPOC Leadership & Engagement
Transparency & Funding Accountability
Research Ethics & Safeguards
Long-Term Health Equity Impact
Reputation & Community Trust

How DEI Rollbacks Affect Scores ?

Institutions that scale back or eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives face score penalties based on severity:

🔴 Major Rollback (-25%) – Eliminating DEI offices, banning race-conscious admissions.
🟠 Moderate Rollback (-15%) – Cutting DEI funding, weakening DEI-related positions.
🟡 Minor Rollback (-5%) – Quietly removing DEI language from mission statements.

If an institution has been forced to scale back DEI due to legal bans but continues alternative efforts, they receive a temporary 5% reduction instead of a full penalty.

What the Ratings Mean

🏆 Gold (85-100 Points) – Highly Ethical, Community-Centered
🥈 Silver (70-84 Points) – Ethical but Needs Improvement
🥉 Bronze (55-69 Points) – Questionable Ethics, Requires Oversight
🚩 Red Flag (40-54 Points) – Poor Ethics, Limited Transparency
⛔ Blacklisted (Below 40 Points) – Actively Harmful, Avoid Engagement

How to Check an Institution’s BRAG Score

Enter the institution's name in the BRAG Score search tool.
The system retrieves public data to analyze equity, ethics, and transparency.
The final BRAG Score is calculated, applying penalties if DEI rollbacks are detected.
You receive a simple, no-nonsense score, making it easy to assess whether an institution is trustworthy.

Why BRAG Matters

Empowers Patients & Participants – Know if an institution values ethical research before engaging.
Holds Institutions Accountable – Encourages transparency in healthcare and academics
Encourages Ethical Funding – Helps donors and policymakers invest in equitable organizations.
Supports Policy & Advocacy – Informs media, legislation, and research ethics discussions.

Need to Request a Correction?

If you believe an institution's BRAG Score needs to be updated or corrected, submit a request via the BIPOC Equity Agency contact page. We review all submissions and update scores as needed.

Check an Institution’s Score Now!
🔎 Search for a university, hospital, or nonprofit and see if they meet ethical research standards.

Find Out Here

Note: This tool is still in development! The design and functionality may change as we refine the system and add more data. This tool is originally created for large institutions. Smaller organizations grading adjustments are still being added. Disclaimer: This BRAG Score system was independently designed and developed by Cynthia Adinig. It does not represent the views, endorsements, or official positions of any organization, institution, or entity affiliated with, nor does it reflect the views of any team members or advisory boards served on. The BRAG Score is an independent tool for research accountability and transparency.

Get to Know Us

We are an all-Black woman founded, diversity, equity & inclusion consulting agency born from Co-founders, Liza Fisher's & Cynthia Adinig's health equity advocacy. Each founding consultant on our team has also had a unique experience with long COVID that has furthered our passion for all things equity. Our collective community minded leadership skills that launched us to the forefront of advocacy, has created a powerhouse team of equity experts all in one space. We each have years of experience in our areas of expertise, including: healthcare, research, education, leadership, policy, legislation, public speaking, science, community outreach, non profit organizations and more!

We are here to help our clients succeed through fresh, intuitive and cutting edge implementation.