# Two-thirds of charities actively seeking to improve trustee diversity, survey finds

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/11/16/two-thirds-of-charities-actively-seeking-to-improve-trustee-diversity-survey-finds/
- Published: 2022-11-16T10:49:29+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Two thirds of charities are actively working to recruit trustees from more diverse
backgrounds, according to research by Ecclesiastical Insurance, with almost 4 in
5 saying charities need to do more.**

Out of 250 charity trustees surveyed by Ecclesiastical Insurance, 54% said their
charity had vacancies. 51% said they found recruitment difficult, increasing to 
three out of five (60%) when asked whether it had become more difficult in the last
12 months. 37% of trustees had also seen resignations rise in the last 12 months.

The survey was commissioned to coincide with [Getting on Board](https://www.gettingonboard.org/)’
s Festival of Trusteeship, a week-long series of events sponsored by Ecclesiastical
which ran last week, between 7 and 11 November.

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54% said they struggle to recruit trustees from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds–
an increase on last year’s 48%. However, two thirds said they were actively seeking
trustees from more diverse backgrounds while almost three quarters said that their
charity board was already made up of trustees from a diverse range of social and
ethnic backgrounds.

The majority of respondents (80%) agreed that board diversity was a good thing, 
with 79% feeling charities need to do more to encourage trustees from a wider range
of ages, backgrounds and communities.

The survey also asked trustees what they thought charities could do to encourage
more trustees from different backgrounds. The main responses given were:

 * To promote the benefits of being a trustee to a wider audience (51%)
 * To demonstrate how being a trustee can boost CVs (43%)
 * To more actively recruit young people (42%)
 * To encourage more flexible meeting options (39%)

Faith Kitchen, Customer Segment Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said:

> “The findings from this research show us that charities are facing a real challenge
> when filling positions on their trustee boards.
>  
> “With over half of charities saying they have vacancies on their boards there 
> is a real need for charities to look at how and where they bring trustees in from.
> The positive news is that two thirds say that they are looking to bring in trustees
> from a more diverse background.
>  
> “By encouraging trustees from a wider range of ages, backgrounds and communities
> charities can bring in new ideas, identify different opportunities and safeguard
> against potential risks they’re not currently sighted on.”

Penny Wilson, CEO at Getting On Board, commented:

> “It’s really positive that this research commissioned by Ecclesiastical shows 
> a growing interest from trustees in diversifying their boards.
>  
> “Finding trustees through open recruitment gives charities the best chance of 
> finding the skills, knowledge and experience they need. Building strong, diverse
> boards is all the more important in the current cost-of-living crisis.”

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