If you want to attract a diverse group of contributors, you have to first show there is a path for a diverse group of people to become leaders -- and providing financial support is a key part of that path.

At the Drupal Association, we believe one of the most positive ways to elevate community members to leadership is through the Drupal Association Board. Board members have an extraordinary opportunity to drive forward the mission and vision of the Drupal Association, and our programs which support the Drupal project, and to ensure that we consider our community in all its diversity.

The board has always had a policy of providing financial support to those members (community elected or otherwise) who cannot afford the cost of travel to board events. At the same time, we do ask that those board members who do have the ability to support themselves to do so, particularly if they have a sponsoring organization in the Drupal ecosystem. However, we've realized that this policy is not well documented. This has meant that some excellent candidates may have previously held back from self-nomination for financial reasons. Today, we change that.

To everyone considering running for the community elected board position please don't let finances be a barrier to your self-nomination for the board. We'd love to have you join us and we're committed to making it achievable for you regardless of your financial situation.