FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1st, 2024
GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER APPROVES NATION-LEADING POLICY REGARDING DIVERSITY OF NONPROFIT BOARDS
CHICAGO - Illinois will continue being a national leader in lifting up all voices because of first-in-the-nation legislation approved on Sunday by Governor JB Pritzker to require nonprofits with the greatest financial power to publicly report the aggregated demographic information about their boards of directors, according to Equality Illinois, the state’s LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.
Sponsored by State Sen. Adriane Johnson and State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr., Senate Bill 2930 would require those nonprofits that give $1,000,000 or more to other charitable organizations to annually report the aggregated demographic information about their boards of directors by posting on their publicly accessible websites, if one exists. For purposes of this legislation and as best practice, individual board members of a nonprofit may decline to disclose any or all demographic information to the nonprofit. SB 2930 passed the Illinois House 72-39 last month and the Illinois Senate 39-19 in April.
“With this first-in-the-nation initiative, Illinois continues to be a national leader with policies that encourage individuals to bring their complete and authentic selves to tables of power,” said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois. “Thank you to Gov. Pritzker, Sen. Johnson, and Rep. Gonzalez for their leadership.”
“By requiring charitable non-profits to publicly post the demographics of board members, we are able to highlight leadership diversity throughout Illinois,” said State Senator Adriane Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “This not only sets a positive example for other organizations but shows the people these non-profits serve that they are represented.”
“I am proud to lead SB 2930 in the Illinois House. All leadership boards should reflect and include the voices of the communities in which they serve and operate,” said State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. (D-Chicago). “When we can see the data that is shared because of SB 2930, elected officials and community organizations can be better partners to those nonprofit organizations that want to prioritize the recruitment of talented individuals from our state’s diverse communities. I know Latines, including LGBTQ+ Latines, have the untapped potential of amazing, qualified, and talented folks who want to serve in roles of leadership. With SB 2930, we can help make nonprofits stronger and more effective and our communities better.”
“Just like the public and private sectors in Illinois, nonprofit boards should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and support,” said Norma Seledon, Director of Leadership Development and Capacity Building at Equality Illinois. “This responsibility is heightened for organizations with great financial power in the sector. With SB 2930, nonprofits can more effectively collaborate with leaders in diverse communities to assess each nonprofit’s leadership strengths and opportunities for growth and to implement strategies to recruit qualified individuals from diverse communities for board service.”
SB 2930 builds on previous initiatives advanced by the Illinois General Assembly to encourage diversity and inclusion among the private and public sectors. The State of Illinois already requires private sector corporations headquartered in Illinois and boards and commissions under the governor’s authority to annually report demographic information about their boards. SB 2930 will hold those nonprofits with the greatest financial power to this same standard of disclosure.
SB 2930 is supported by a broad group of organizations, including Access Living, Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Arab American Family Services, Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity, Chicago Therapy Collective, Equality Illinois, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, Illinois Environmental Council, Latino Policy Forum, National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Peoria Proud, Prairie Pride Coalition, Pride Action Tank, Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center, Sierra Club Illinois, Uniting Pride of Champaign County, and Youth Outlook.
SB 2930 takes effect on January 1, 2025.
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