The key findings from the study include:
- 73% of respondents have in-depth diversity and inclusion policies within their association. However, 70% say they do not have benchmarks to measure the success of such policies.
- 84% said focusing on diversity and inclusion is “the right thing to do,” but 55% said there remains a challenge in finding a diverse pool of qualified job candidates.
- While 84% of respondents agree focusing on diversity and inclusion is the right thing to do, less than 20% thought it was crucial to their organization’s profitability.
The top four characteristics identified in the respondents’ definition of diversity were ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and gender. Geographic background, religious views, and socioeconomic background were also, unsurprisingly, common characteristics.
But perhaps diversity and inclusion go beyond common and identifiable characteristics to include different perspectives and outlooks from individuals with similar backgrounds, and associations ought to look for ways to ensure everybody has the confidence to express such viewpoints. They could do this to create a more diverse industry, which in turn will impact the views on diversity and inclusion within the industries that associations represent. Some associations have broad diversity policies while others encompass cultural, tribal, and philosophical differences. It’s encouraging to see association leadership putting deep thought into what diversity means.
