The Potential of Foundation Board Diversity

Over 20 years ago, the Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation launched its Girls’ Initiative to amplify support for women and girls. More recently, the foundation’s board, historically mostly women, expanded its equity and inclusion focus to include race and culture for both grantmaking and board composition. Leadership sees its own diversity as essential to driving change.

• Expanding one’s diversity, equity and inclusion focus 
• Looking outward: diversity in grantmaking practices Now, trustees consider the diversity of a nonprofit, not just for diversity’s sake, but because it drives impact. Thus, the foundation:
  • Collects information about clients, board and staff diversity using a standardized form and probing questions on grant applications
  • Added a non-discrimination policy to grant requirements
  • Created a DEI subcommittee to guide internal conversations and learning
  • Explicitly named diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a grantmaking priority
  • Engages peers in philanthropy to share their DEI work and methods at Stearns Foundation board meetings, and through formal interviews
• Looking inward: board composition Eventually, the Stearns Foundation’s scrutiny extended to its own board. Did it reflect the communities it aimed to serve?
• Embracing the journey beyond diversity Becoming more equitable requires time, continued re-assessment, and space for important and tough conversations.

Read the full article about foundation board diversity by Chaletta Huertas at Exponent Philanthropy.