Questions Board Members Should Ask to Foster Diversity

Following is a checklist of questions the consultant Anne Lehman devised to help boards discuss what they need to do to ensure they are open to diverse members:

Focus on structure.

• Is diversity articulated in your strategic plan and other board documents? Is there a well-researched business case in place for diversity?
• Are there clear anti-discrimination policies in place?
• When analyzing board diversity, what are the measures? Your nonprofit’s client and membership numbers? The general population data in your community? A maximum 70 percent of board members of the same nationality or ethnicity? Keep in mind that it typically takes at least three people of the same gender or race to change a board; adding just one can be a lonely experience for the first one chosen.
• Are the specific targets set? Are they in your strategic plan? Is progress reported to the board at least quarterly?

Examine board recruitment strategies.

• Is there a recruitment plan in place?
• Have you gathered a list of places to seek out diverse board members? Have you reached out to groups that represent minorities in specific professions or big companies or professional associations? Do your board members from large companies reach out to human-resources officials and others who want to help diverse candidates get experiences like board membership?
• Have you considered using a search firm that specializes in diversity to help identify candidates? Have you contacted local religious, social, and civic leaders in diverse communities? Have you talked to staff members about any suggestions they might have? How about donors or grant makers?

Adopt a cultivation process.

• Is there a board cultivation effort, orientation for new members, and a continuous education plan in place to ensure thinking about diversity is a regular part of board activity?
• Have you set up a buddy system that helps ensure that once on board, a new member not only feels welcome but has someone, almost like a mentor, to turn to with questions; someone with whom to debrief after the first few meetings to see how things went?