Benjamin J. Tapper

Chief Diversity & Equity Officer @City of Indianapolis

Founded and led the City of Indianapolis’s first Office of Equity, Belonging & Inclusion, embedding equity frameworks into a $1.5B municipal budget and an enterprise of employees.Developed and executed citywide equity policies that improved institutional culture and increased cross-sector engagement, impacting over residents.Collaborated with government leaders, legal teams, and philanthropic stakeholders to operationalize DEIA metrics and implement organizational development strategies across 25+ departments.Directed a $4M maternal health initiative, securing both public and private investment, and led major donor outreach that contributed over $500K in new funding.Built durable coalitions with grassroots leaders, healthcare systems, and public officials to advance health equity and drive economic mobility across marginalized communities.Managed a $150K training and development budget to enhance DEIA literacy, resulting in a 40% increase in employee participation and measurable improvements in community trust.