Charity trustees have rated equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as the governance area in which their boards are most struggling to achieve positive outcomes.
The Directory of Social Change (DSC) analysed the responses of over 1,000 users of its Governance App and found that they rated their charity board’s EDI performance at 6.5 out of 10 on average.
In contrast, respondents rated their charity board’s performance on “integrity” at 8.8 out of 10 on average, the highest rated governance area.
DSC said its findings confirm that “when it comes to EDI work, there is still a long way to go”.
‘Supporting EDI principles in theory but not doing much in practice’
DSC reported that three aspects of EDI scored “particularly low”: engaging in learning and reflection (5.6), leading organisational progress on EDI (5.9), and monitoring EDI targets (5.9).
However, respondents more readily agreed that “the principles of EDI are embedded in the organisation and help to deliver the charity’s public benefit” at 7.9 on average.
“This suggests a conflict between boards supporting EDI principles in theory but not doing much in practice – or not knowing how to,” the report says.
“EDI is an area where not just boards, but many people lack confidence and understanding.
“Because it can feel sensitive to tackle, many boards often avoid discussing performance in this area.”
The report says the answers broadly reflect DSC’s understanding of the sector’s EDI progress, “which still has a long way to go”.
“The main issue appears to be fear of getting it wrong,” it says.
“It is perhaps also reflective of the data in other reports which show that boards are still typically white, male and of a particular socio-economic background where either they are unaware of the issues or lack the confidence to tackle them as they are themselves from an advantaged demographic.”
The report says boards also struggle to define EDI and decide “which issues are symbolic, and which really matter to our beneficiaries and stakeholders”.
DSC analysed data from a sample of 1,126 Governance App users who completed a full governance review between August 2021 and May 2024.
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