The Conference Board is a New York-based think tank and business membership and research association. It provides its members with business updates and advocates for various policies preferred by corporate business leadership in the United States. ¹

The Conference Board’s membership consists of more than 2,000 member companies and 150 different member councils, ² including representatives from Fortune 500 companies in its board of program directors. ³ The organization has released more than 1,300 publications and produces research reports, podcasts, and events to support its policy and business objectives. ²

The Conference Board supports the critical race theory-influenced concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate settings; has supported environmental, social and governance activism (ESG activism); and encourages its members to work with the U.S. government to expand their use of non-traditional energy to reach “net zero” carbon emissions targets by 2050. ^{4 5} It also encourages expanded use of mail-in voting  ⁶ and advocated for the creation of spaces for race-based discussions at workplaces following the police-involved death of George Floyd in June 2020. ⁷

History and Leadership

The Conference Board was founded in 1916 to address economic issues and public skepticism of business related to the bombing of the Los Angeles Times in 1910, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, and the Ludlow Massacre of 1914. ⁸ Magnus Alexander of General Electric and Frederick Fish of AT&T were the group’s first president and chairman. ⁹ In 1924, The Conference Board filed a public charter to promote public welfare. ¹ The group received tax-exempt status from the IRS in 1930. ¹⁰

As of 2023, Steve Odland was the president and CEO of the Conference Board. Prior to joining the Conference Board, he was the CEO of Office Depot, Auto Zone, Tops Markets, and other companies. From 2004 to 2006, Odland was the chairman of Business Roundtable’s Corporate Governance Task Force. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to be a Commissioner on the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission and a Presidential Appointee on the Council on Service and Civic Participation. ^{11 12}

Activities and Funding

The Conference Board is a business think tank and membership and research association that seeks to provide knowledge to inform global business decisions and influence and shape society with policy advocacy. ¹

At the time of its founding, the Conference Board produced economic reports analyzing the American economy and American workforce after World War I, the Spanish Flu epidemic, and World War II. The group also claims to have helped the creation of the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II. ⁸ Headquartered in New York City, the Conference Board has satellite offices in Ottawa, Canada; Brussels, Belgium; Kuwait; Beijing, China; Hong Kong; and Singapore. ²

As of October 2023, the Conference Board had more than 2,000 member companies and 150 different member councils. ² Its board of program directors includes representatives from many Fortune 500 companies. ³ A group of global counsellors also supports the Conference Board’s members’ upcoming goals and helps them meet their financial objectives, ¹³ often relying on individuals based in different geographic regions to support the process. ⁸

A large group of voting members helps to guide the nonprofit activities of the Conference Board. ¹⁴ In 2021, it spent $26,714,257 on conferences and meetings, $14,453,374 on research programming, and $1,187,824 on publications. ¹⁵ With these funds, the organization publishes business-related materials and comments on public policy and societal issues. As of 2023, it has more than 1,300 publications available online and produces more than 45 research reports, 100 podcasts and webcasts, and 20 events annually. ²

The Conference Board does not participate in political campaigns, donate to campaign committees, candidates, political parties, or political action committees, but is active in public policy advocacy. ¹

Policy Positions

The Conference Board’s policy advocacy is focused on several areas of its members’ expertise across economic indicators, sustainability issues, corporate philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, education, the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity and inclusion, and what the organization identifies as sustainable capitalism. Within this framework, members work on different issues through the Conference Board’s policy committees for economic development; economy; strategy and finance; environmental, social, and governance (ESG activism); human capital; and marketing and communication. Some of its member organizations are also focused on the critical race theory-influenced concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion. ²

A council designed to support senior executives helps guide the Conference Board’s efforts to build out critical race theory-influenced diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The council allows members to compare notes and support business performance through change programs, measurement, and benchmarking activities and includes LGBT-related topics, DEI across cultures, unconscious bias training, and delivering and designing global DEI strategies. ¹⁶

The Conference Board has also hosted several DEI conferences where members address their approach to these issues. Its 2022 conference served as a platform to discuss race, the critical race theory-influenced concept of social justice, allyship, and other topics. The conference agenda included strategies to address challenges facing DEI implementation in corporations, creating so-called equitable and inclusive leadership at companies to change culture, measuring change, detecting bias in technology, measures to institute corporate board diversity, perceived bias in hiring, the left-of-center concept of pay equity, the foundations of DEI success for organizations, managing DEI throughout hiring processes, antisemitism in the workplace, and other topics. ¹⁷

In June 2020, the Conference Board suggested creating a space for race-based discussions at workplaces following the police-involved death of George Floyd as company executives considered addressing the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial justice. Its list of suggestions for far-left racial justice-related workplace activities included self-education, reflection on perceived conscious and unconscious biases, inviting different points of view into decision-making, supporting minority-owned businesses, donating money or time to activist organizations, and actively supporting the careers of African American colleagues. ⁷

The Conference Board supports ten days of early voting, including weekend and evening hours, and expanded use of mail-in voting for elections. It has suggested that businesses should encourage employees to vote early or with mail-in ballots instead of voting on Election Day. It also believes Congress should take action to help voters identify what the government may identify as misinformation and disinformation in election circles. ⁶

The organization also encourages businesses to work with the U.S. government to expand their use of non-traditional energy in place of traditional energy sources, create a carbon pricing market, promote the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity, and reduce methane and hydrofluorocarbon emissions in all sectors to reach environmentalist “net zero” carbon emissions targets by 2050. ^{4 5}

Funding

The Conference Board receives funding from individual contributions, membership fees, ² and grants. ⁸ In 2021, the Conference Board reported revenue of $72,603,284 and expenses of $62,299,042. The Conference Board organization reported revenue of $72,035,040 and expenses of $60,068,018 in 2020. ¹⁸

The TIAA Foundation gave the Conference Board $75,000 in 2020  ¹⁹ and $60,000 in 2019. ²⁰ The Conference Board also received $60,000 from AARP in 2018, ²¹ $15,000 from the ADP Foundation in 2018, ²² $55,750 from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 2014, ²³ and $25,000 from ACT in 2014. ²⁴

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2. “About.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/about/.
3. “The Conference Board Program Directors.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/council-directors/united-states/pdf/authorpdf.cfm.
4. “To Reach Net-Zero Emissions by 205, US Government & Business Must Work in Partnership.” The Conference Board. Press Release. July 13, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/topics/sustaining-capitalism/press/to-reach-net-zero-emissions-public-private-partnership.
5. “An Energy Transition Road Map to Net Zero 2050.” The Conference Board. Report. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/research/solutions-briefs/-Energy-Transition-Road-Map-Net-Zero.
6. “AI’ Disinformation Capabilities Threaten Presidential Election—Highlighting Need for Action by Business and Government” The Conference Board Press Release. September 6, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/topics/sustaining-capitalism/press/solutions-brief-2024-election.
7. Shani Magosky and Craig E. Carroll. “Actionable Steps for Creating Space for Race-Based Discussions in the Workplace.” The Conference Board. June 25, 2020. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/publications/creating-space-for-race-based-discussions.
8. “How to Contribute.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/about/donate.
9. “Timeline.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/timeline.
10. “Conference Board Inc.” Candid Guidestar. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-1624108.
11. “Steve Odland.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/about/our-leadership.
12. “Personnel Announcement.” The White House of President George W. Bush. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081211-8.html.
13. “Global Counsellors.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/about/global-counsellors.
14.  “Voting Members.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/about/voting-members.
15. “The Conference Board Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (From 990). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131624108/202233199349317018/full.
16.  “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council II.” The Conference Board. Accessed October 7, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/councils/diversity-and-inclusion-in-business.
17. “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference. December 1, 2022. Accessed October 7, 2023. https://www.conference-board.org/events/inclusion.
18. “The Conference Board Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131624108/202233199349317018/full.
19. “TIAA Charitable Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2002. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/472199684/202111979349301206/full.
20. “TIAA Charitable Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/472199684/202002889349300325/full.
21. “AARP.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/951985500/201923189349304447/full.
22. ^[1] “ADP Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/222222589/201922879349301422/full.
23. “American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2014. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/130432265/201611309349302086/full.
24. “Act Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2014. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/420841485/201601829349300860/full.