Board Age Diversity and the Future of Museum Leadership

Abstract

AbstractAge diversity is an often‐overlooked dimension of museum board diversity, yet the future of board leadership lies with younger generations, and museum sustainability in the present also depends on the contributions of younger patrons today. Critical issues of board representation cannot be fixed overnight, but a step in the right direction is board age diversity. As the entity that hires and evaluates the executive director and provides fiscal oversight for the institution, it is crucial that the board reflects the demographics and values of the people the museum is trying to serve. Younger generations are more socially connected and socially aware, and they want to change the world now; data, however, suggests that fewer young people see museums as aligning with these values, creating an urgency to engage and build loyalty with these next generation patrons. Recruiting board members without decades of professional experience makes it imperative that museums prioritize leadership development from the beginning. By cultivating younger donors for future giving and leadership positions and capitalizing on their unique insights now, museums will be able to remain relevant for years to come. This article presents a detailed action plan for museums on how to recruit, develop, and retain younger board members to ensure museum sustainability now and in the future.