5 ways to make your board more diverse

Let’s start with a question. How diverse is your charity’s board? Is it:

· Best in the un(d)iverse

· Board-erline diverse

· Diversi-teetotal

We love a good pun.

But seriously, have you considered the level of diversity on your board? How would you score it on a scale of one to ten?

A board with a mix of individuals from different social and cultural backgrounds is one with its finger on the pulse of the issues its service users face.

As stated in a 2021 Forbes article: “Diversity is closely related to community perceptions of a non-profit organisation’s equality image and the ideals of fairness. When non-profit boards do not reflect the diverse communities they serve, it creates a disconnect and can sew mistrust.”

With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of ways to make your board more diverse.

But first…

What is a board of directors?

A board of directors (or Trustees) is the governing body responsible for key decision-making within a charitable organisation. The board focuses on high-level strategy, insight, and accountability, to build and sustain long-term viability. Five ways to make your board more diverse That’s the definition. Now onto five things you can do to make your board more diverse. There are the practical steps, such as:

· Run a diversity audit

· Make a commitment to improve diversity · Put a policy in writing to ensure accountability

· Adapt your recruitment processes

These are important steps, but let’s dig a little deeper by looking at the groups currently underrepresented on charity boards, and why you should consider recruiting individuals from these communities.

1. Champion disability

According to government statistics, 22% of the UK population (14.6m people) have a disability. If charity boards were truly representative, the number of disabled trustees would be at a similar level. But this isn’t the case.

At Bamboo, we champion disability in the workplace, so this statistic is disheartening - especially considering that the mission of many charities is to support those with disabilities.

As an example, a charity that supports blind and visually impaired individuals would benefit from having at least one member of the board with lived experience.

Why? Because they’ll be able to provide a first-hand account of the challenges faced by service users.

It makes perfect sense, so why don’t more charities do this?

One charity that does this is our client, Sutton Vision, whose Chair and Trustee Champion for equality and access, Michael Parsons, frequently attends Sutton Vision events with his guide-dog.

2. Embrace the modern age

Technology has provided new fundraising opportunities and the ability to reach more people than ever before. But reaching them is only part of the journey. Engaging users with your charity’s mission is where the real work lies.

Did you know that 18-34’s are the largest active age group on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter? Did you also know that those in the 55-64 age bracket are 80% more likely to be appointed to a charity board than the aforementioned 18-34’s?

Being able to effectively communicate and engage with a range of demographics is nothing but beneficial to your organisation. An inter-generational board provides varied perspectives, skills and approaches that will help you reach a wider audience and increase donations.

3. Defy gender norms

Women account for 36% of charity trustees. I’m sure you’ll agree that this needs to be closer to 50% if charities are to truly represent the people they exist to serve.

Gender equality is a hot topic. Without sufficient female representation on your board, you lack the ability to authentically connect with more than half the UK population.

Our client, Population Matters, is a shining example of a gender-diverse board that possesses the skills and experience needed to run the charity successfully.

4. Be a class act

Social class and education are probably not the first things that spring to mind when thinking about board diversity and inclusion. But the fact is, most charity trustees come from above average income and education backgrounds.

A charity looking to tackle poverty and support low-income families is not representative of its service users if every board member is university educated and earning a wage well above that of the average UK citizen, right?

5. Ethnic ethics

Reports show ethnic minorities are severely under-represented on UK charity boards. In fact, a staggering 92% of trustees are white, compared to just 8% coming from black and Asian backgrounds.

With 14% of the population in England and Wales coming from non-white backgrounds, the lack of ethnic diversity needs to be tackled head-on if charities are to truly represent the communities they serve.

The Race Equality Foundation practices what it preaches, with a well-balanced board of trustees in terms of ethnic diversity.

Ready to diversify?

If you’re looking to expand and diversify your board, give us a call on 0203 750 3111 to find out how we can help.