I’ve seen so many great and important conversations happening around boards this Trustees Week and seen how many charities are struggling to recruit trustees, with 4 out of 5 boards with one or more empty seats.
An Inclusive Boards report from 2022 found that:
29% of charities have all white boards compared
51% of charities do not have a woman of the global majority on their board
Only of trustees 16% are from the global majority.
Women represent 40% of trustees while making up 90% of the workforce
And the average age for a trustee in the UK is 60 years-old
So is the issue our recruitment or is it that we aren’t creating spaces that are designed to welcome diversity and lived experience?
When it comes to charity trustee boards, having a range of diverse voices isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s vital and backed by research. Here’s why adding people with different backgrounds and lived experiences to your board makes all the difference:
1. Smarter Decisions
Boards with a mix of perspectives make better decisions. Research shows that diverse teams make decisions 60% faster and with up to a 58% higher accuracy rate that sparks richer discussions, fresh ideas, and avoids groupthink, leading to smarter, more innovative solutions.
2. Representing the People You Serve
Charities exist to serve communities and specific groups of people. If a board reflects the diversity of the population it aims to serve, it is more attuned to the actual needs and challenges those groups face. Trustees with relevant lived experiences can offer invaluable insights that align programs and strategies more closely with beneficiary needs. Collaboration is a word that is used often in the charity sector, we know that when we collaborate with our communities and beneficiaries, it strengthens our programmes. This needs to be seen at board level too.
3. Building Trust3. Building Trust
Seeing a board that mirrors the community can build trust and credibility with beneficiaries and funders alike. According to the Charities Aid Foundation, 67% of people said they would trust charities more if their leadership reflected the people they aimed to help.
4. Accountability That Matters
Trustees with firsthand experience often feel a deeper connection and responsibility toward the charity’s mission. This connection results in more grounded decision-making focused on achieving real, positive change.
5. Cultural Understanding
Diverse boards bring a wealth of cultural knowledge, making your charity more inclusive and sensitive in how it communicates and engages with different groups.
6. Creative Problem Solving
People with lived experience have insights you can’t find in textbooks. Studies show that diverse teams solve problems 30% more effectively than homogeneous ones . Trustees who’ve faced challenges that the charity addresses often spot practical solutions others might miss.
7. Leading by Example
When your board embraces diversity, it sends a clear message: inclusion isn’t just talk — it’s woven into your organisation’s core. This leadership can inspire the entire charity sector to follow suit, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
8. Living Your Values
A diverse board is more than just strategic — it’s a reflection of your charity’s commitment to fairness, empathy, and social good. This alignment with values isn’t just theoretical; it’s what drives true, impactful change.
Adding diverse lived experiences to charity boards isn’t just about ticking a box. It’s about empowering your organisation to thrive, innovate, and stay deeply connected to the people you’re aiming to serve. The stats speak for themselves: diversity works!
If you want to read more about things you can do to make your board more diverse, read our blog here!
