The world is turning its attention to #racialjustice like never before, and whilst we are thrilled to see this important topic getting the attention it deserves, discussion is just the start. It's time for action.
#BlackLivesMatter #BLM
We know we need to look at hiring, firing and promotion, but let's not forget where so much power sits in the charity sector... on trustee boards.
So what can you do right now to power up racial justice at your charity?
Write an advert for your next trustee opening. Too many charities recruit trustees by word of mouth, reaching out to their existing networks. The result? New recruits tend to look just like they do.
Writing a formal advert can help you recruit for professional skills, rather than people you already know. Check out the templates in our resource bank:
gettingonboard.org/resource-bank
Don't ask for applicants that have been a trustee before. The trustee body is 94% white. You're fishing from a racially un-diverse pool by requiring previous board experience.
"We would particularly welcome applications from people of colour as we are looking to improve the diversity of our board". Include a sentence like this one. It has INCREDIBLE positive effects.
Identify structural barriers. System racism has deep roots - we won't fix these overnight. But what can you do right now?
Can you pay travel costs? Can you pay for childcare during trustee meetings, or schedule meetings at different times if some are struggling to make them? Are you transparent about trustee expenses and any other benefits that are available to your team?
What actions have you taken to create an anti-racist working culture, and how will you hold yourself accountable for progress? What training do you make available, and how do you ensure that it goes to the people that need it most?
Post that advert. When charities go outside their usual networks, they can benefit from truly diverse talent pools. More diverse trustee boards are stronger, more effective and more representative of the communities they serve.
Check out our trustee recruitment guide. It's packed full of helpful tips & tools: gettingonboard.org/resource-bank
And advertise your next vacancy with us for free: gettingonboard.formstack.com/forms/looking_…
Prioritise induction and training for new trustees. Inclusion isn't over as soon as you recruit diverse trustees - it's barely begun. A great induction is key, especially if your new trustee is recruited into a board where everybody else knows each other. Cultures can be strong.
Build an inclusive board culture. As part of our mission to get more and more diverse people on to charity trustees, we run focus groups with people of colour (and lots of other groups) to find out what's stopping them becoming trustees...
Again and again, we hear that potential trustees are worried they will be ignored or dismissed. It already happens in so many other areas of their lives.
What can you do to create a genuinely inclusive board? How do you make decisions? Who holds formal power, and who holds informal power? Is it related to their status, race, class and gender? What goals have you set as an organisation to achieve more diversity - can you be bolder?
Power is complicated. We aren't going to overturn every kind of inequality overnight. But we can start with honest conversations, sincere and ambitious plans, and holding ourselves accountable.
What will you do today to create a more diverse and inclusive charity sector?
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