Increasing Membership Diversity Generally
One way to quickly engage with and market to a diverse community is to collaborate with an organization or institution that is already involved with the diverse community that you are targeting. There are minority, women, LGBTQ professional affinity groups for most professions (e.g., lawyers,doctors, accountants, IT, engineers, etc.) so there are lots of opportunities to engage adult professionals who may be enticed to try sailing or become a member.
These groups are often looking for meeting venues and/or unique events for their members and your sailing organization could offer to host a meeting for the group. The organizations' members will be interested in coming because it’s a new and interesting opportunity for their members and for your organization it’s a chance to meet a new group of potential members/program participants. So it’s a win-win for everyone.
Please click on the row to see more detail about organizations and groups that you may want to reach out to. Many of these organizations have regional/local offices as well:
- Inter Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Taskforce
The Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity (TIDE) Task Force is committed to making college sailing a more inclusive and diverse community that respects and supports sailors of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. - National Women's Sailing Association
The NWSA's mission is to enrich the lives of women and girls through education and access to the sport of sailing. - Women who Sail (Facebook Group)
Women Who Sail® is a place to come together to share insights, tips, questions, excitement, and most importantly support over what it’s like to be a woman in the boating world. We work hard to keep this very diverse group respectful, supportive, and on target. - The Magenta Project
The Magenta Project are a collective of passionate people committed to developing pathways and generating opportunities for women in performance sailing, working with a wide range of individuals and organizations to make this happen. Established by the sailors of the successful campaign of Team SCA in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015, where sailing is one few sports where women and men can compete alongside and against each other. - Yankee Cruising Club
Based in New England, the Yankee Cruising Club was founded in 1983 to bring LGBTQ boaters together to meet, make friends, and get out on the water together. They strive to be an open and friendly place for people to socialize and be themselves. You don't need a boat or any boating experience to join. - Knickerbocker Sailing Association
Knickerbocker Sailing Association is a non-profit gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender boating club, now in its 26th year. - The Barbary Coast Boating Club
Northern California's premier LGBT boating experience - a club for those interested in all aspects of on-water fun. Their goal is to provide a safe environment that fosters camaraderie, fun and the enjoyment of boating and other water activities in the company of the LGBTQ & LGBTQ friendly community. - Rainbow Races Inc.
Connecting the LGBTQ community and its allies through fundraising and awareness events; and promoting equality through sailing
Here are a few other resources that other National Governing Bodies have developed:
National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
- US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Diversity Scorecards (https://www.teamusa.org/diversityscorecards)
- USA Archery (https://www.usarchery.org/resources/diversity-and-inclusion-plan-130319220508.pdf)
- USA Cycling (https://usacycling.org/article/meet-diversity-equity-inclusion-task-force)
- US Equestrian (https://www.usef.org/about-us/diversity-inclusion)
- USA Field Hockey (https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Field-Hockey/ADM/Diversity-Inclusion)
- US Lacrosse (https://www.uslacrosse.org/diversity-inclusion)
- US Rowing (https://usrowing.org/sports/2020/6/8/usrowing-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-resource-page.aspx)
- US Ski and Snowboard (https://usskiandsnowboard.org/about/diversity-inclusion)
- USA Swimming (https://www.usaswimming.org/resource-center/diversity-equity-inclusion)
- US Tennis Association (https://www.usta.com/en/home/about-usta/who-we-are/national/about-usta-diversity-and-inclusion.html)
Professional Sports Leagues
- Major League Baseball (https://www.mlb.com/diversity-and-inclusion)
- National Basketball Association (https://inclusion.nba.com/)
- Professional Golf Association (https://pgaimpact.org/category/inclusion-diversity/)
Other Sports Based Organizations
- We Are Golf (http://wearegolf.org/diversity-task-force/)
- Athlete Ally (https://www.athleteally.org/)
- Move United (https://www.moveunitedsport.org/)
These are links to National Organizations. There will be local chapters in all cities.
Lawyers
- National Bar Association
The National Bar Association was founded in 1925 and is the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges. It represents the interests of approximately 65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students. - Hispanic National Bar Association
They are a nonprofit, nonpartisan, national membership organization that represents the interests of Hispanic legal professionals in the United States and its territories. - National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
The preeminent professional development organization and voice for 50,000 Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. - National Association of Women Lawyers
The mission of the National Association of Women Lawyers is to provide leadership, a collective voice, and essential resources to advance women in the legal profession and advocate for the equality of women under the law. - National Native American Bar Association
The National Native American Bar Association began in 1973 as the American Indian Lawyers Association. After a few name changes (American Indian Bar Association to Native American Bar Association), in 1980 they reorganized and developed a chapter system for state Indian bar associations, and we became the National Native American Bar Association. - The National LGBTQ Bar Association
The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender legal organizations. - South Asian Bar Association of North America
The South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) serves as the umbrella organization for regional South Asian Bar Associations and South Asian legal professionals throughout North America.
Doctors
- National Medical Association
The largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States. The NMA is a 501(c) (3) national professional and scientific organization representing the interests of more than 50,000 African American physicians and the patients they serve. - National Hispanic Medical Association
Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, the National Hispanic Medical Association is a non-profit association representing the interests of 50,000 licensed Hispanic physicians in the United States. - Association of Black Women Physicians
The Association of Black Women Physicians is an organized network of African-American women physicians committed to the improvement of public health and welfare, through the advancement of knowledge concerning women and the community health. - Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (previously known as the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association) is the world's largest and oldest association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) healthcare professionals.
- American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
- ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America). The first national Latino professional association in the United States, established in Los Angeles in 1972.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Their mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. - Big Brothers, Big Sisters
As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. - YMCA
The Y is a leading nonprofit organization for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. - 4-H
4‑H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime. - 100 Black Men
Formed in the 1960s, this is a mentoring organization focused on African American male youth. Their motto is “What They See Is What They’ll Be,” -- i.e., they sponsor programs and services for disadvantaged, disenfranchised and low-income youth and families designed to positively change their life trajectory. - Jack and Jill of America
Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2 – 19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty. - LA84
The LA84 Foundation makes grants to non-profit youth sports organizations throughout Southern California, educates coaches, convenes local and national thought leaders and uses its voice to advance sports as an essential element in transforming the lives of youth.