The Thirty Percent Coalition is a national organization representing over 90 members from diverse sectors across the U.S.
For the first time, public and private companies, professional services firms, institutional investors, government officials and many major advocacy groups are working together to increase gender diversity in the corporate boardroom.
The Coalition conceives and implements collaborative strategies with three principal groups:
Institutional Investors - Corporate Leaders - Public Policy and Outreach
Institutional investors, which include major pension funds, investment managers, religious investors, and mutual funds 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 more than 150 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 $3.2 trillion in assets under management and continue to have a significant impact.
The Corporate Leaders explore strategies to promote greater diversity on corporate boards, using their influence and networks. For example, the Champions of Change have the access to senior leadership in boardrooms and the executive ranks. A group of Chief Legal Officers and other attorneys specializing in corporate governance, have produced a widely circulated “Thought Piece” to promote their advocacy efforts with peers. Collaboration is also underway with Chief Diversity Officers and Chief Human Resource Officers to explore how they can influence gender diversity in their respective roles.
The Public Policy and Outreach group continues to explore and implement ways in which the Coalition can engage public officials – several State Treasurers are members of the Coalition. This work is oriented to the federal, state and local levels for effecting change. Communication continues with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to advocate that diversity disclosure rules need to be updated in order to provide more meaningful information. Collaboration also continues with member organizations supporting initiatives in a number of state legislatures considering board gender diversity resolutions.
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 promote gender diversity, including women of color, on corporate boards. A unique and groundbreaking organization of over 90 members, the Coalition is committed to the goal of women, including women of color, holding 30% 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 help to women and minorities for board service and on related initiatives to increase the number of women and minorities 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 | Individual members |
The Coalition employs three major strategies for exerting power and influence that are compatible with U.S. preferences and practices. Three groups each pursue one of those strategies and have seen commendable results.
Since 2012, the Institutional Investors have engaged with companies with no women directors. They have worked collaboratively with many of these companies to make changes to nominating committee charters affirming a commitment to board diversity inclusive of gender, race, and ethnicity - as of June 2017, more than 150 of the targeted companies have elected women to their boards.
The Corporate Leaders mobilize business leaders to use their influence by publicly advocating for change and privately talking with their peers. They have grown the Champions of Change (CEOs, Board Chairs, Lead Directors and Chairs and members of nominating committees) to close to 40 participants. A Charter provides a roadmap for other corporate leaders to follow. The group is also mobilizing key corporate executives such as Chief Diversity, Chief Legal and Chief Human Resource officers, who can influence not only their own boards but also their peers in other companies.
The Public Sector Initiatives group works with key Coalition members and other public officials to support passage of state, city, and federal resolutions encouraging gender representation on corporate boards. A second strategy seeks legislation that requires bidders for public contracts to disclose board diversity data and report on plans for improvement. The Committee also communicates with the SEC in support of improved disclosure requirements.
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.