A first-of-its-kind analysis by The Chronicle puts data behind the longstanding concern that elite perspectives shape the views and work of large philanthropic institutions. At the 20 biggest national foundations, which control $162 billion in assets, plenty of board members have Ivy League degrees but very few live in rural or poor parts of the country.
This special report presents the revealing numbers and provides expert opinions and practical guides about how and why to make foundation boards more diverse.
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NewsOn Big Foundations’ Boards, ‘Coastal Elites’ and Ivy Alumni Predominate
Trustee rosters at major grant makers sorely lack socioeconomic and geographic diversity, a Chronicle analysis shows. What does that mean for philanthropy? -
News
Inside Philanthropy’s Boardroom ‘Bubble’
At the 20 wealthiest national foundations, which control $162 billion in assets, plenty of board members have degrees from top private universities, but only a handful live in rural or poor parts of the United States. -
News
Progress Slow in Push for Racial and Gender Diversity on Foundation Boards
A Chronicle review of trustees at 20 major U.S. grant makers suggests considerable work lies ahead. -
Advice
Why and How to Build a Diverse Nonprofit Board
Making nonprofits better reflect the communities they serve starts at the board level. -
Advice
A Tool One Foundation Uses to Ensure Diversity
Developing guidelines about diversity can help your nonprofit maintain those policies even as staff and board members change. -
News
Foundation Heads Call on Peers to Publicize Diversity Data
The leaders of six large organizations push for more openness about the racial and gender make-up of nonprofit boards and staff. -
Opinion
Opinion: Philanthropic Leadership Shouldn’t Still Look Like the Country-Club Set
While parts of the foundation world have grown more diverse, the top leadership and program-officer jobs don’t yet reflect the diversity of America, says a report released Sunday. -
Opinion
Need for Diversity at Nonprofits Is More Vital After Garner and Brown Cases
Charities have much to learn from business on the importance of hiring more women and minorities. -
Opinion
Foundation Boards Shouldn’t Be Filled Just With Wealthy People
Foundations are the last vestiges of royalty in our society—and unless that changes, they will continue to be staid, unimaginative, and anti-democratic. -
News
Dominance of ‘Coastal Elite’ Extends to Foundations, Study Finds
Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders railed against the power of an entrenched leadership class. They didn’t target philanthropy, but they could have, based on our first-of-its-kind analysis of major grant makers’ boards.
