We are the Coalition for U.S board diversity®. Our national and international members, representing $7 trillion in assets under management, work to increase diversity in corporate boardrooms.
For the first time, public and private companies, professional services firms, institutional investors, government officials and many major advocacy groups are collaborating to achieve common goals.
There is no other organization of this kind in the US.
The Coalition conceives and implements collaborative strategies with five principal groups:
Corporate Partners-Private Equity-Institutional Investors-State Treasurers-Advocacy Groups
Corporate Partners: A growing group of public and private companies are implementing diversity initiatives, leveraging their influence and networks. One program underway is with Chief Diversity Officers to explore how they can influence gender diversity in their companies.
Private Equity/Alternative Assets: A large number of Private Equity firms are working to address the lack of gender diversity in their industry. A first-ever initiative is underway to bridge understanding with investors and find practical solutions to increase and disclose gender representation.
Institutional Investors: Institutional investors, which include asset owners and managers are actively advocating for board diversity. They believe that diversity, inclusive of gender, race and ethnicity, is critical to an effective board and a dimension of sound corporate governance. The investors are especially focused on gender diversity, which has emerged as one measurement on which there is a compelling correlation with positive effects on shareholder value. Since 2012, the Coalition’s Institutional Investors have collaboratively engaged with close to 400 companies that have added a woman to their board of directors following the Coalition’s landmark initiative, “Adopt a Company Campaign”.—See example of the letter that has been sent to companies. The Coalition’s investors represent more than $7 trillion in assets under management and continue to have a significant impact.
State Treasurers: As part of their fiduciary oversight, these Treasurers play an active role in engaging with companies in their investment portfolios, advocating for best practice corporate governance, including board diversity.
Advocacy Groups: Many of the Coalition’s members provide programs to assist women in seeking board positions. These organizations provide ample talent resources to companies, challenging the idea that qualified female board candidates are in short supply.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Thirty Percent Coalition
The vision of the Thirty Percent Coalition is to have corporate boardrooms reflect the gender, racial and ethnic diversity of the United States workforce. Board diversity has been broadly identified as one of the leading measurements on which there is a compelling correlation with improved shareholder value and company performance. The mission of the Thirty Percent Coalition is to advocate for diversity on corporate boards, promoting women and people of color. A unique and groundbreaking organization of over 90 members, the Coalition is committed to the goal of women, including women of color, holding 30% or more of board seats across public companies.
The Coalition believes that by working together members can reinforce their own efforts and have greater power to change the composition of the boardroom. The Coalition includes public and private companies, private equity firms, institutional investors, professional service firms, advocacy and nonprofit organizations, and government officials, working together for the first time to promote diversity on US corporate boards.
In 2011, twenty-seven industry leaders, including senior business executives, national women's organizations, institutional investors, corporate governance experts and board members gathered to address the lack of gender diversity in corporate boardrooms. Recognizing that the supply of board ready female candidates was not the issue, the Thirty Percent Coalition was formed to collaboratively influence companies to increase the number of women in their corporate boardroom – what the participants referred to as the “demand” side of the equation.
Today, it is widely accepted that diversity on corporate boards brings value to the business and the shareholders. The power of working collectively on this business case is a compelling reason to join the Coalition. Shareholders have the support of their peers and can collectively engage with companies with a stronger voice. Companies in the public and private sector can align themselves with a credible and collaborative initiative as they work to achieve and promote their own diversity goals. Advocacy and women’s groups can further their own initiatives as the Coalition creates demand for more women and minority candidates to fill board seats. It is a mutually beneficial situation for everyone.
The Coalition works to connect and promote it members through in-person gatherings, an active presence in social media, and highlighting in the quarterly newsletter. In summary, the benefits of membership in the Coalition include:
Recognition of your commitment to diversity
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Showcase your commitment by recognizing diversity as an important business issue and promote your image through affiliation with the Thirty Percent Coalition
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Contribute and publicize your thought leadership through articles, blogs and other social media highlighted via the Coalition’s social media initiatives and quarterly newsletter
Networking
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Tap member resources: speakers for national conferences, internal training, partners, databases for board candidates, and exchanging ideas on best practices through small group meetings and committee work
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Collaborate with Coalition members across industries at in-person meetings in the spring and at the Annual Summit, in small group meetings, and via teleconference
Advocacy
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Leverage your voice through the Coalition's op-ed articles and commentary on policy initiatives
There are many organizations working on corporate governance and women's leadership, including board diversity. However, the Thirty Percent Coalition is unique in its focus, structure, and ability to engage a cross-section of advocates who care about the issue.
The Coalition’s vision is that corporate boards reflect the gender, racial and ethnic diversity reflected in the U.S. workforce. We are especially focused on gender diversity and, in particular, to influence companies to increase the diversity in their corporate boardrooms. With over 90 members, the Coalition has the influence to make our voice - the voice of our members - heard.
Others, including many of our members, are working to promote women and people of color for board service and on related initiatives to increase the number of women and people of color in the executive suite. We do not seek to duplicate the work of our members, rather the Coalition reinforces and supports the important work being done.
The Coalition does not support quotas and does not believe that is the answer for the United States. Our focus is to improve the gender diversity in U.S. boardrooms so that women are well represented.
Early on, the Coalition set a goal of 30% female representation across public company boards, which at the time was approximately 15%. The 30% goal is an objective against which progress can be measured. This target representation is calculated across all public company boards and is not a goal or quota for each public company board.
The Coalition seeks collaborative partnerships working toward a common goal. It is not necessary for our partners to have 30% female representation on their boards and/or in executive leadership. We do, however, welcome those companies who have achieved notable diversity in their executive leadership and want to showcase their achievement through an affiliation with the Coalition.
We encourage engagement through participation in one of our working groups and through attendance at our bi-annual meetings to benefit from significant networking and interaction with other Coalition members.
Annual Membership contributions support our programs. Some members do contribute at sponsor levels beyond the membership dues.
The different categories of membership are:
| Corporate Partners | Professional Service Firms | Institutional Investors | Government Officials | Advocacy & Non-Profits |
The Thirty Percent Coalition is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 corporation, governed by a board of directors elected from the membership. An Executive Director works closely with the board and different working groups to carry out the Coalition's work.
