Early in 2021, the David and Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation published a paper called, “Not-for-Profit Board Diversity & Inclusion: Is it essentially window-dressing?” For that study, they interviewed 26 experienced thought-leaders in not-for-profit board governance, asking about their experience with building diverse boards in the sector. They were deliberate in reaching out to a broad cross-section of community leaders, including members of Canada’s Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities.
And while that report resonated with many, ongoing questions have now led to a new, second study, From window-dressing to real change: Success stories from boards on a journey to Diversity & Inclusion. For this report, researchers talked to several organizations that have had successes in building Board Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (EDI-R). Each of the not-for-profit organizations we spoke with was intentionally on an EDI-R journey, and while none would claim to have achieved all their goals – indeed it’s arguable whether such a claim would be meaningful – each is doing valuable work to advance the agenda. Organizations who generously participated in the study include:
- Anishnawbe Health Foundation
- Responsible Gambling Council
- Soulpepper Theatre
- Toronto Foundation
- Vancouver Airport Authority
- Women’s College Hospital
The resulting report is filled with practical advice about the journey to strengthen Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism in the boardroom. Click here to access the full report.
