Board Diversification – A “How-To” Training

Two-Part Webinar Series on Building a Diverse Board

Featuring Ali Levin, founder of Board Boost Consulting and author of Boost Your Nonprofit Board: A Diversification Guide

Building a diverse board is an ever-important and ongoing process. Historically, nonprofit boards are not diverse, with over 74% of boards comprised of non-BIPOC men and women. In San Diego, only 33% of our boards have BIPOC members even though 55% of our local population identifies as a black, indigenous or as a person of color. To be intentional about diversity, equity and inclusion organizationally and to make the necessary policy shifts in how we serve the world requires diverse and well-trained boards of directors.

While understanding the need to diversify, many nonprofit professionals and volunteer board members are unsure of how to start or what process to follow to accomplish and maintain a new, diverse and inclusive board composition. It can be a daunting task.

To begin this work in earnest, and support our Network leaders, we hosted a two-part comprehensive training on how to begin the process of diversifying your nonprofit board for long term sustainability and success. The first session focused on WHY this effort is imperative for your organization’s effectiveness and the second session explored HOW to do this work with state of the art tools and a step by step process.  After completion of this program, leaders had a deeper understanding of practical and actionable steps to empower them as they worked to develop a board that is most effective for their  organization and represents the community.  This program was offered in the spirit of Project Stone Catcher.

Due to the subject matter, CEOs and Executive Directors were encouraged to to participate with their board chairs and/or other members of their board.  A group rate was successful in attracting teams of CEOs and board members to participate together. This laid the foundation for shared language and shared understanding of the proposed process for board diversification. All registered participants received a copy of  Ali’s newly released book, Boost Your Nonprofit Board: A Diversification Guide to further assist them in this work.

Meet Our Facilitator

Ali Levin has fifteen years of corporate leadership experience from her time at Dell Inc. She has a Masters of Science in community sciences and nonprofit leadership from University of Florida and has earned a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. Levin founded her own consulting practice, Board Boost Consulting, which delivers comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion solutions to help boards engage and retain a diverse team. With her corporate leadership background, nonprofit volunteer experience, and years of nonprofit academic research, she coaches nonprofit boards along the way of their board diversity transformations.

Check out Ali’s blog