The events of 2020 have changed our lives in ways we did not imagine when the year began. Throughout it all, the central Ohio nonprofit community has risen to the challenge by serving as the frontline defense for tens of thousands of residents. So it was our great honor to help United Way of Central Ohio and the community of health and human service nonprofits throughout central Ohio with its recent Nonprofit Diversity Study. (Click here to download.)

One of the most interesting findings from this research effort was just how different board composition is compared to staff composition. In 2020, only 23% of health and human service nonprofits have boards with a racial or ethnic composition as diverse as (or more so than) Franklin County’s population.Yet staff composition tends to be more racially or ethnically diverse; 44% of 20% nonprofits have staffs with a racial or ethnic composition as diverse as (or more so than) the general population.

Key findings from and implications of this survey were discussed during a recent Columbus Metropolitan Club panel discussion on this topic, which is available for viewing on Youtube.

Clearly there’s more work to be done on this front. We’re glad to play a small role in advancing this forward.