Since 2006, the State of the States report by the Equality Federation has documented the strength and sustainability of state-based advocacy organizations that advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

Over the past seven years, our movement for equality has celebrated wins and sustained losses; we’ve forged ahead, and we’ve stepped back; we’ve thrived, and we’ve faltered. Each year, State of the States has faithfully documented these triumphs and trials as reflected in the capacity of our state-based organizations.

This year, instead of releasing a 30-plus page report, State of the States will consider the strength and sustainability of our movement’s front line leaders through a series of three blog posts.

In Part 1, we looked at the Executive Directors of our state-based groups. For Part 2, we look at our Staff and Board Members to help measure the sustainability, strength, and stability of state-based organizations.

Staff size is a major driver of the strength of our organizations. As we’ve seen time and time again, building a strong movement for equality in a state requires a professional team of experienced and committed leaders. Unfortunately, one of the greatest challenges facing organizations is that they are largely understaffed.

Over the past seven years, staff size at state-based organizations has remained relatively consistent across the state-based movement. Fluctuations have occurred during campaign years with groups adding staff to meet the demands of ballot or legislative initiatives, but once these campaigns end, staff size returns to pre-campaign levels.

• Currently, the median number of staff is three.
• Groups that are gearing up for campaigns, such as Basic Rights Oregon, or rolling off of campaigns, such as OutFront Minnesota, as well as larger organizations like Empire State Pride Agenda and Equality California have up to 22 staff, driving up the average to four.
• In 2006, of the groups surveyed, only 22 had an Executive Director, and even fewer had additional staff.
• Currently, 34 organizations have Executive Director positions -- 73% of groups.
• But while the majority of our members have an Executive Director, fewer than half have Development, Communications, and Organizing Directors:
• 44% (20) have a Development Director;
• 33% (15) have a Communications Director;
• 44% (20) have an Organizing Director.

While staff members are critical to the success of an organization, the impact and importance of board leadership should not be underestimated. In some states, volunteer board members do it all; in others, they focus on two key roles: governance and fundraising. No matter what shape or form they take, boards are directly connected to the strength of a state group.

Since we’ve been collecting data, board size at state-based organizations has remained largely constant among state groups, and currently, the average number of board members is 16.

While board size has been consistent, board leadership, in the form of fundraising, has improved slightly.

• In 2007, the mean number of dollars raised by boards was $68,000, and the median was $18,500.
• In 2012, the mean number of dollars raised by boards was $72,557, and the median was $28,048.

About half of state groups felt their boards were meeting their financial goals while six organizations reported that their board raised lower than projections, and five groups reported that their board raised more than projected.

Because our staff and board members are imperative to our success, these groups must include the dreams, voices, and experiences of people of all genders, races, and ethnicities, and we have work to do to get there.

While state-based organizations have taken steps to become more diverse and inclusive, we’ve only seen partial success. State groups have made critical and exciting improvements in the inclusion of transgender and genderqueer people.

• In 2008, transgender and genderqueer people made up 6% of organizational staff and board.
• Currently, transgender and genderqueer people make up 12% of organizational staff and board -- a significant improvement.

Unfortunately, women and people of color continue to be underrepresented on staff and boards.

Methodology
The State of the States survey is distributed in the spring of each year to all current Equality Federation member organizations. The survey is sent by email, and responses are collected over several months. The most current data was submitted by 30 organizations, while in prior years, more than 40 members responded. Each year, the survey includes approximately 25 questions, some with multiple responses. Some organizations choose not to complete every question, leaving some answers blank. We report both the mean and median scores to allow for most accurate understanding and use.