Leading with Intent: A Closer Look at Foundation Board Responses to Leading with Intent 2017
August 1, 2018
BoardSource has consistently tracked trends in nonprofit board leadership since 1994. In the summer of 2016, board chairs and executives from roughly 1,300 nonprofit organizations responded to a survey asking about their board’s composition, practices, performance, and culture.
Leading with Intent found that people of color comprise 10% of CEOs, 10% of Board Chairs, and 16% of Board members, and while board members consistently report dissatisfaction with the level of diversity, they are not prioritizing demographics in recruiting.
The composition of a board impacts its leadership ability, and a homogenous board is at risk of “having blind spots that negatively impact its ability to make the best decisions and plans for the organization.” The report emphasizes the need to prioritize strategic board composition and to apply vigilantly these strategies in board recruitment.