Board Diversity Initiaive Launch Presentation
- 2. TONI TALLEY TV Host and Producer Great Day KC FOX4
- 3. AGENDA • Partners in Diversity • History of BDI • The WHY • Kansas City Landscape • The Vision • Call to Action • Q&A
- 4. DEBRA BOX Founder In The Box Consulting Former President and CEO Support KC
- 5. BDI CHAMPIONS Chan Brown - Kansas Health Foundation Irene Caudillo – El Centro Kathryn Evans Madden - Rooted Strategies Stephenie Smith - Sophic Solutions Courtney Thomas - Newhouse Tom Vansaghi – William Jewell College Dr. Carmaletta Williams - Black Archives of Mid-America
- 6. Technical Assistance Team Cass Butler Dunlap David Oliver Dave Smith Gabriela Flores Nicole Jacobs Silvey Blake Cleaver
- 7. A Special Thanks to our Funders
- 9. BDI Leadership Nicole Jacobs Silvey Lead Facilitator Jenne Vanderbout SKC Executive Director Blake Cleaver Lead Facilitator
- 10. The Journey 2022 2023 2024 2021 2020 2019 Floated the concept Engaged funders Invited thought leaders Champions meeting COVID George Floyd Initial framework created Curriculum ideas generated Branding envisioned Curriculum drafted Logistics created Learning module engaged Built out learning platform Tested framework and curriculum Revamped structure Local Research Train the trainer developed 10 organizations + 120 candidates VISION IDEA DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM PILOT KICKOFF
- 11. THE WHY Diversity Matters “Not for us, without us.” 60% of the services provided by not-for-profit organizations are administered to People of Color, however those from communities of color make up less that 25% of board seats.
- 13. Brent Never Associate Dean, Henry W. Bloch School of Management Associate Professor of Public Affairs Director of the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership
- 14. • Assessment of the level of diversity among nonprofit boards in the Greater Kansas City region using a mixed methods study design. • Understanding of prioritization and planning around board diversity among area nonprofits. • Contextual insights from nonprofit leaders. • Snapshot of board composition of area nonprofits. Kansas City Area Board Diversity Research M C N L – S t u d y D e s i g n & I n i t i a l I n s i g h t s O b j e c t i v e s :
- 15. Study Overview 81% 1% 1% 2% 4% 10% Executive Director VP CFO Board Chair Board Member Other (Office Manager, Exec Support) Role of Respondent • Participating organizations were all at least nine years old. • Majority of participants providing organizational and board information were Executive Directors or administrative staff. • Half of respondents have been in their roles 5 years or less.
- 16. Study Overview Year Organization Formed • On average, boards are approximately 72% White and 28% Persons of Color • 47% of board members are within the ages of 45-64 • Nearly 95% of organizations have only Cisgender male and/or Cisgender female board members. • 45% of responding organizations have board members who identify as LGBTQIA+. 31% 27% 42% 0% 1980 or earlier 1981 through 1999 2000 through 2015 2016 or later
- 17. 59% say that demographic characteristics of board members is very important, with 39% saying they have formally identified the desired mix of diversity, skills, and connections they expect to be represented by their board. 76% report having a diversity statement finalized or in-progress.
- 18. 36% 55% 9% Yes Somewhat No Do the members of your board generally represent the demographics of the population served by your organization? 59% 30% 3% 2% 5% Very important Somewhat important Neutral Not very important Not important at all How would you rate the importance the board applies to demographic characteristics when recruiting board members?
- 19. 39% 47% 14% Yes, this has been established Somewhat. We are in conversation about what this means for our board and our organization No. We have not identified any expectations regarding this Has your organization formally identified the desired mix of diversity, skills, and connections you expect to be represented on your board?
- 20. Research Insights Participating organizations indicate they are committed to and actively engaging in conversations about board diversity and representation. 87% 81% 81% 66% 66% 9% 16% 13% 19% 27% 4% 3% 6% 15% 7% The board has committed to understanding the diversity of the community the organization serves. The board has discussed community needs in a way that acknowledges any disparities between different demographic groups among the people it serves. The board has committed to raising its awareness and understanding of the relevance of racial inequity to the organization's mission. The board has committed to addressing any gaps in organizational outcomes based on demographic results. The board has discussed the organization's programmatic results and outcomes in a way that would surface meaningful variances based on demographics. Yes (%) No (%) Unknown (%)
- 21. 51% 56% 58% 58% 62% 66% 66% 67% 67% 71% 73% Expand donor work? Attract and retain top talent for the staff? Attract and retain top talent for the board? Enhance the organization's standing with funders and donors? Enhance the organization's standing with the general public? Plan effectively? Cultivate trust and confidence with the community served? Strengthen programs and services? Understand how best to serve the community? Understand the organization's current operating environment? Understand the organization's work? How does the board's current level of diversity impact the organization's ability to…
- 22. Established leadership indicate relative ease in finding and recruiting a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to their boards, while admitting this would be very challenging for newer, less professionally established leadership and boards. Organizations that have prioritized board diversity and a range of experiences indicate positive growth in the organization’s direction. Executive Directors express a board’s need to consider diversity, experiences, skill sets, and representation by various definitions depending on the organization’s needs, and still trying to recruit members that are committed to the work of the organization. Some Executive Directors indicate a challenge in diversity requirements for certain funding opportunities. Current State & Opportunities Encourage people to consider functional diversity. You want a diverse board not because you want a diverse board but because the guidance it brings actually helps move the organization forward. -Current Executive Director Leaderships’ Views on Current State of Board Diversity Seek out board members who want to represent and serve, not come from a perspective of saving. Focus on board members who can functionally help the board and the organization. Think about ’how can this individual help our organization’. Know your personal mission, the organization’s mission, and what drives a connection to that mission and then listen for that when meeting potential board members. Think about what it means to reflect the community the organization serves and also how best to help the work of the organization. Incorporate a variety of voices and perspectives to collaborate with the board: partnering groups to the board, advisory boards, volunteers, etc. Advice from Leadership Regarding Diverse Boards
- 23. What is BDI? Executive Leader Candidate Board 1. Shaping board culture 2. Providing support to the executive leader 3. Building a pipeline of board-ready candidates
- 24. • Engage the organization's full board and executive leader • Cultivate a culture of inclusivity • Foster strategic approaches to pipeline building • Operationalize DEI principles • Embrace shared power and adopt inclusive leadership Board Track
- 25. • Executive leaders with boards engaged in BDI • Provide peer support through the process • Empower leaders to affect change • Ensure leaders have necessary resources Executive Leader Track
- 26. Sonny Castro SKC Board Chair Former University Chief Diversity Officer Retired University Faculty Member
- 27. • To establish a cadre of “board-ready” community leaders representing diverse backgrounds • Equipping them with the knowledge to navigate the board table • Create a pathway for active participation, leadership, and retention within boards Candidate Track
- 28. Program Facilitation • SKC will be administrating the initiative • How organizations or candidates can be part of the program • Zenler on-line platform for all materials • All forms can be found on the website • Two facilitator model
- 29. Supporting Resources • Online learning modules • Participant Workbooks • “Going Beyond” optional training activities
- 30. Corporate Partners • Recruitment and retention • Opportunity to meet professional goals • Employee Resource Group (ERG) • Community engagement
- 31. Drew Eanes Project Manager JE Dunn
- 32. Ways to Engage
- 33. FUNDERS • P r o v i d e g r a n t s a n d r e s o u r c e s s u c h a s s p a c e • P r o v i d e r e f e r r a l s
- 34. CORPORATIONS & PARTNERS • E n g a g e a s p a r t n e r s • I n v e s t i n i n i t i a t i v e s o n g o i n g s u c c e s s • O f f e r r e s o u r c e s s u c h a s s p a c e
- 35. INDIVIDUALS • M a k e a c h a r i t a b l e d o n a t i o n • P a r t i c i p a t e i n C a n d i d a t e T r a c k • E n c o u r a g e b o a r d p a r t i c i p a t i o n • S e r v e a s a f a c i l i t a t o r
- 36. NONPROFIT LEADERS • S h a p e b o a r d c o m p o s i t i o n • M o b i l i z e n e t w o r k s f o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n
- 37. Questions
- 38. Let’s Connect! “Diversity is the one true thing that we all have in common… Celebrate it every day.” Winston Churchill
Editor's Notes
- #9: JV will provide
- #11: JV will complete
- #13: Blake will add
- #14: Nicole will add info
- #16: The survey instrument was created using Qualtrics and distributed to a sample procured from IRS Exempt Organization data across the nine-country Kansas City metropolitan area with 107 total respondents.
- #17: The survey instrument was created using Qualtrics and distributed to a sample procured from IRS Exempt Organization data across the nine-country Kansas City metropolitan area with 107 total respondents.
- #24: Nicole + Blake
- #25: Include pictures of Zenler BC will add info
- #26: BC will add info
- #27: JV will add info
- #28: BC will add info
- #29: Nicole will add info
- #31: Nicole will add info
- #32: Nicole will add info