Survey Highlights:
Board Effectiveness
- 27% of organizations say their board is very effective in fulfilling its governance responsibilities
- 49% say it’s somewhat effective
- 14% describe their board as ineffective or very ineffective
Board Diversity
- 25% of respondents say their board closely reflects the diversity of their community
- 55% say somewhat — while 14% say not well
- 5% indicate that diversity is not a priority in board recruitment
Governance in Action
In the past two years, charity boards have:
- Revised policies or bylaws (62%)
- Expanded efforts to recruit underrepresented voices (34%)
- Implemented board training (32%)
- Conducted a skills or diversity assessment (28%)
- Developed succession plans (26%)
However, 22% reported no major governance changes at all.
Founder Involvement
42% of organizations say their founder is no longer involved, but:
- 12% report the founder is still the executive director or CEO
- Others hold board, staff, or informal advisory roles
These findings highlight a sector that is actively navigating governance demands while striving for greater representation and sustainable leadership.