The State of Board Diversity Findings from Leading with Intent 2017 Follow the conversation on social media with our special hashtag, #DiversifyYourBoard. Sponsored by

Ramona Johnson Sr. Relationship Manager NeighborWorks America Today’s Conversation Anne Wallestad President & CEO BoardSource Vernetta Walker Vice President of Programs & Chief Governance Officer BoardSource Ramona Johnson Sr. Relationship Manager NeighborWorks America

About the Study Biennial study of board composition, culture, and performance. First data collected in 1994. Moment in time snapshots of board strengths and challenges. Convenience sample of executives and board chairs. Available for download at leadingwithintent.org.

About the Respondents

About the Respondents

Areas of Focus The People The Culture The Work The Impact

Key Findings Board Diversity: Boards are no more diverse than they were two years ago and current recruitment priorities indicate this is unlikely to change. Board Advocacy: Boards are starting to embrace their roles as advocates for their missions, but stronger leadership is still needed. Board Engagement: Strong understanding of programs is linked to stronger engagement, strategy, and external leadership — including fundraising. Board Assessment: Boards that assess their performance regularly perform better on core responsibilities. Board Impact: Chief executives and board chairs agree that the board has an impact on organizational performance, and that two particular board characteristics matter most: the board’s understanding of its roles and responsibilities, and the board’s ability to work as a collaborative team toward shared goals.

Board Diversity

Attitudes Toward Diversity – Executives

Attitudes Toward Diversity – Board Chairs

Racial & Ethnic Diversity Both chief executives and board chairs report the highest levels of dissatisfaction with their racial and ethnic diversity. 27% of boards reported that they are 100% white; up from 25% in 2015.

How Important is a Diverse Board?

The Disconnect: Board Recruitment

The Dissonance Between Attitudes & Actions

What Will it Take to Change? Action & Accountability A New Recruitment Philosophy Shared Understanding & Values

Learn More & Take Action Download the report at leadingwithintent.org Join future webinar discussions, hosted by Nonprofit Quarterly: October 12th: Structuring the Board’s Engagement November 14th: The Importance of Board Understanding of Programs December 12th: The Critical Role of Board Chairs Use “Opportunities for Reflection” as a starting point for board discussion

Thank you for joining us! Nonprofit Quarterly relies on your generous support. If you enjoyed this webinar, please consider donating today! https://nonprofitquarterly.networkforgood.com/ Follow the conversation on social media with our special hashtag, #DiversifyYourBoard. Sponsored by