National and local news have highlighted the current high stakes environment of non-profit board governance. Hospitals and art schools have closed abruptly. University presidents, many of them women, have resigned amidst roiling tensions on campus and diminished trustee confidence. Non-profit leaders work for boards, but the structure and accountability system of boards often is not well understood. Who manages the governance structure of our large non-profits and who serves on the boards who ultimately are accountable for these crises?
Traditionally women are under-represented on large non-profit boards. Do nonprofit boards fully represent their institutions’ stakeholders? Do board members have the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience required to make good decisions for both the organization and those whose well- being is impacted? How might decision-making change if more women served on boards?
Please join us on October 23rd at 3:00 p.m. for a panel discussion co-sponsored by The Giving Circle of Women’s Connection, Philadelphia and the Giving Circle of the Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia. The panel will feature Carolyn Adams and Vicki Kramer, co- authors of Increasing Gender Diversity on the Boards of Nonprofit Eds and Meds: Why and How to Do It and members of the Women's Nonprofit Leadership Initiative. Hear and ask questions about their case for why we need to increase the representation and diversity of women on boards and expand their influence.
The presentation will be at the Cosmopolitan Club 1616 Latimer Street, with a Happy Hour to follow. For now, just save the date and look for the registration link coming soon. Both the event and the happy hour are FREE and all are welcome!
Come be part of this wonderful community of like-minded women, trying to make a difference in Philadelphia through philanthropy.