The study compiled the results of a survey completed by 227 association executives, two-thirds of which were CEOs, and while the findings indicate a positive view of increasing diversity and inclusion within associations, they also highlight which areas need work and pinpoint where change or an innovative approach is required.
The study revealed that 81% of respondents view diversity and inclusion as part of their association’s core values, but 45% reported not having an action plan for implementing related initiatives. Furthermore, 75.11% of respondents ranked “ensuring the leadership and staff represent the diversity of its members/supporters” as the most important of their organization’s actions, yet less than a third of them said their Board of Directors had a diversity and inclusion committee or subcommittee.
Associations play a fundamental role in addressing diversity in the industries they represent, but as the findings show, they need to lead by example by implementing strategies to increase diversity within their organizations and measure the success of such strategies, but benchmarks and data collection methods are currently lacking.
