The UNCF's First Black Board Chair
Last month, March of 2021, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) announced the appointment of Milton H. Jones Jr. as the Chairman of their board of directors. According to their press release, Jones is the first African-American to hold this position.
The first. Ever. At the UNCF.
The UNCF was founded 77 years ago, and their mission is to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their students as they achieve success in college and beyond. According to the website, the corporate board includes 18 members, with nine African-Americans and six women. Additionally, the UNCF includes a board of 15 institutional leaders from its HBCU members. Jones, an Atlanta business leader and civic activist, the new chair has been a member of the UNCF board since 2005. His predecessors were two white men, including William F. Stasior, Sr. a retired Chairman and CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton, and prior to that, John D. Rockefeller, III (former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo’s International Food and Beverage Division). And according to the UNCF’s press release, Stasior and Rockefeller were also preceded by white men. In fact, in UNCF president Michael Lomax’s statement following the raised eyebrows about this historic first, he shared that John Rockefeller, Jr. was the first annual fund campaign chairman. The UNCF website applauds their board’s diversity, and states that its members are instrumental in helping “as many students as possible make it to and through college successfully.”
Like many organizations, it appears that the UNCF has worked to establish long-term relationships with donors, or maybe rewarded sustained donors, with board membership. This approach can lead to board recruitment processes that discourage true inclusion and diversity. According to the Leading with Intent Report by BoardSource, boards are no more diverse now than in prior years. In fact, 65% of CEO’s report dissatisfaction with the racial diversity of their current board of directors (BoardSource, Leading with Intent: 2017 Index of Nonprofit Board Practices (Washington, D.C.: BoardSource, 2017). At the UNCF, the current board includes representatives from many major corporations, a proven method of ensuring future funds from key partners. However, a board’s role includes more than just raising funds.
First, let’s examine the purpose and function of a board of directors. What exactly are they supposed to do? A board’s primary role is to provide fiduciary oversight, fundraising, support for the organization’s leader, and strategic guidance. That means they make sure the organization has the funds they need to operate, they are good stewards of those funds, the leaders are supported in every way possible to lead, and the organization stays on track towards its mission. While UNCF has certainly sustained for decades as a stronghold in the Black community, their leadership must understand why the knowledge that Jones’ appointment was a first for the United Negro College Fund caused confusion, and even disappointment. For many, the lack of Black leadership seemed to contradict their legacy-building mission. Because, beyond what a board is supposed to do, they also represent something, too.
Lomax’s statement can be read in full here. In short, he explained that board chairs are elected by the directors and, while there were other qualified black candidates over the years, he remains proud of the work they’ve done and to partner with allies on accomplishing their work. In other words, the work is getting done well, the board is raising money, and offering solid governance support.
Let’s unpack the layers and lessons here:
Why did they acknowledge Jones’ appointment as the first Black chairman if this change wasn’t long overdue? Many organizations issue press releases when they appoint new board members and when they have a change in leadership. However, most don’t acknowledge historic firsts like UNCF did in their press release. The fact that they acknowledged that the appointment was important makes clear their leadership understands the lack of black board leadership was perhaps not aligned with who they were as an organization.
How do the students represented by UNCF feel when they don’t see themselves reflected at the highest levels of leadership – after 77 years? If your organization serves Black and Brown communities, part of staying true to your mission and vision is having leadership at every level that reflects that community. After 77 years, certainly the UNCF’s board could recognize some of its long-term black leaders on the board and could add notable HBCU grads to their board of directors.
Who decided the president should have to release a statement defending the governance practices of his supervisor? Given the public reaction, I understand UNCF’s need to release a statement. I find it odd that the statement was issued in Lomax’s name. First, making him explain (and excuse) the lack of black leadership for the past 77 years seems an odd choice, especially given the fact that he reports to the board (as all presidents and executive directors do). Second, the optics of making an African-American man do the work of delivering this message feel a bit tone deaf. Instead, a joint statement from the board responsible for Jones’ appointment and his predecessors would perhaps be more appropriate. They could have also committed to continued change moving forward as opposed to explaining how they managed to go 77 years without a black chairman. How powerful would it be if UNCF committed to having a significant representation of HBCU alum on their board? Perhaps that would help create a pathway to leadership of this organization doing very necessary work, with people leading who can relate to the experiences of those impacted.
We can all understand how hard it is to raise funds, serve our communities, navigate the changing world, and stay true to our mission. Allies are welcome in this work, especially if they share a commitment to centering black and brown communities as opposed to centering themselves as saviors. It’s necessary to truly commit to reflecting the communities you serve, and to having their voices represented, valued, and elevated. Those voices make you stronger, make your work better, and deepen your impact in important ways. After 77 years, the UNCF should make a goal of having those board seats filled with HBCU alums who have accomplished educational success and are making meaningful impact in their field and their community. Not only is this a great vision, it’s an attainable goal, and is necessary for UNCF to do its work.
Just like a mind, an opportunity for sincere reflection and change is a terrible thing to waste.
Learn more about building a board that reflects your community here.