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Diversity in the charity sector

Leading the way for the sector to truly represent and better serve our society.

Over the past few years, increasing attention has been drawn to the lack of diversity at both senior leadership and board level in charities.

ACEVO collects diversity data in its annual CEO Pay and Equalities Survey. For over 10 years, the survey has found unacceptably low numbers of CEOs from Black, Asian or Minoritised Ethnic backgrounds. In 2023, 7% of respondents reported this and the low number has been consistent across the last three years. Much more work is to be done in creating greater senior opportunity and representation within the charity sector, as well as ensuring more diverse experiences are captured within research and monitoring. Our vision is that civil society leaders should be representative of the communities they operate in and the people they support. Anyone who seeks to become a civil society leader, or who is currently a leader, should have the same opportunities for career development.

Outputs

Charity So White: a POC-led campaign tackling institutional racism in the charity sector.

HALO: an alliance of organisations and individuals working to create a future without hair discrimination.

The Equality Republic: a partnership of people who work on equalities issues.

The Racial Equity Index: producing an index and advocacy tools that will provide greater accountability for racial equity within and across the global development sector in order to dismantle structural racism and create a more equitable system and culture, with justice and dignity at its core.  

Grant Givers’ Movement: an opportunity for people working in grant-giving to collaborate and challenge the status-quo on issues such as where endowments are invested, where power lies, systems change and the role of philanthropy in tackling some of society’s most pressing problems. 

Action for Trustee Racial Diversity: provides charities with knowledge, resources, toolkits, networks and specialist advice to enable them to take practical steps to increase the racial diversity of their Boards.

If you want to know more about our work on diversity or would like to get involved in our work on diversity please email policy@acevo.org.uk.

Not an ACEVO member?

If you have any queries please email info@acevo.org.uk or call 020 7014 4600.