WNLI is engaged in advocacy and thought leadership including research, outreach to board leaders of meds and eds, expert panel events and education of stakeholders for the purpose of achieving equitable representation on the boards of healthcare and higher education institutions.
Board Rooms to Delivery Rooms: Facing the Maternal Health Crisis Through the Strength of Diversity
On April 18, 2024, WNLI held a panel discussion focused on the crucial importance of having diverse perspectives and voices working collaboratively along the leadership continuum from boardrooms to delivery rooms and with collaboration across the healthcare industry and within communities.
Distinguished experts offered their insights on the importance of diverse leadership in governing those entrusted to develop programs and allocate resources that break through barriers to care and enable lifesaving solutions. Meet the leaders shaping the future of maternal healthcare. Watch the full presentation below.
Open Letter to the IRS
In 2023 WNLI formed the Coalition for Nonprofit Board Disclosure, a national initiative developed to appeal to the IRS seeking board composition transparency through an Open Letter to the IRS requesting that it add to its 990 tax form a question requiring large public charities to disclose the demographic composition of their boards. A simple additional question as there is currently a section that already requests a list of board members and responses to questions about governance. The letter had nearly 500 signatories from across the country. In early 2024 the IRS responded to WNLI and the Coalition for Nonprofit Board Disclosure with interest and attention. Unfortunately discussions ceased in the Fall of 2024. New efforts to open other avenues for the disclosure of the aggregated demographic composition of large non-profit boards are now underway. Learn more about the effort.
WNLI Past Events
WNLI has hosted and participated in multiple events over the years.
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WNLI hosted an important panel discussion on January 25th: Close the Gap: Gender & Race in Nonprofit Boardrooms. Here is a link to the event recording. https://youtu.be/YHVGIV2zZCQ
This program was a joint effort between the Villanova Law Women’s Network and the Villanova Law Minority Alumni Society. WNLI member Jane Scaccetti was a panel participant.
AGB (Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges) virtual national conference on trusteeship. WNLI Master Class panel was moderated by Charisse Lillie, with WNLI panelists Jane Scaccetti and Vicki Kramer.
Philanthropy and Nonprofit Law Section of Professors
The panel discussion highlighted the challenges to achieving diversity on eds and meds and private company boards and discussed what differentiates these boards from public company boards, why diversity on these boards is as important, and what steps can be taken by these boards to increase diversity. Sponsored by the The Forum of Executive Women.
Our WNLI members Vicki Kramer and Carolyn Adams discuss the gender gap – particularly for women of color – on the governing boards of higher education and healthcare institutions. They explore the story behind the latest data collected as part of our national study, discuss why we should care, and consider what we can do to effect change.
