The Conference Board

The Conference Board
Name	The Conference Board
Type	Nonprofit research organization
Founded	1916
Headquarters	New York City
Region served	Global
Key people	Peter G. Peterson; James R. Killian Jr.; Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Products	Business research; economic indicators; conferences

The Conference Board is a global, nonprofit research organization that provides data, analysis, and convening services for senior executives, policymakers, and scholars. Founded in 1916, it produces widely used economic indicators, conducts corporate governance and human capital research, and hosts conferences and peer networks. The organization interacts with major corporations, international institutions, and academic centers across United States, United Kingdom, China, Germany, and other jurisdictions.

History

The organization was established in 1916 amid the industrial expansion of the Progressive Era and the aftermath of the Industrial Workers of the World labor disputes; early sponsors included leaders from U.S. Steel and the National Association of Manufacturers. In the 1920s and 1930s it expanded research capacity alongside institutions such as the Brookings Institution and the National Bureau of Economic Research, responding to policy debates influenced by the Great Depression and the New Deal. During and after World War II the organization engaged with corporate planning efforts connected to figures who later worked in Marshall Plan economic reconstruction and in agencies like the Office of Strategic Services. In the late 20th century it broadened its scope to include global corporate governance dialogue alongside partners such as the Bretton Woods Conference legacy institutions and multinational firms headquartered in Tokyo and Paris. Notable leaders and trustees have included executives who also served at AT&T, General Electric, Citigroup, and philanthropic actors linked to the Rockefeller Foundation.

Mission and Activities

The organization's stated mission centers on providing trusted information and peer networks for senior executives, boards, and policymakers—activities comparable to services offered by McKinsey & Company research units and corporate membership groups tied to the World Economic Forum. Core activities include convening industry councils and peer networks with members from Procter & Gamble, IBM, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and multinational conglomerates; delivering executive education and leadership programs akin to offerings from the Harvard Business School and the Wharton School; and advising boards on governance best practices in the mold of reports by the Financial Stability Board and securities regulators. The organization also hosts conferences and summits that draw participants from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and central banks such as the Federal Reserve System.

Research and Publications

Research outputs encompass corporate governance studies, human capital and workforce reports, sustainability and ESG analyses, and strategic foresight pieces. Publications appear as monographs, white papers, and briefing notes similar to scholarship produced by the RAND Corporation and think tanks like the Institute for International Economics. The group’s human capital work often references frameworks used by the Society for Human Resource Management and cross-references labor market data from national statistical agencies including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Eurostat. Noteworthy reports have examined board diversity in comparison to standards advanced by the Securities and Exchange Commission and regulatory trends emerging from the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act era. Collaboration has occurred with academic researchers at institutions such as Columbia University, London School of Economics, and Stanford University.

Economic Indicators and Indexes

The organization maintains several proprietary indicators that are widely cited by media, analysts, and policymakers. Flagship series include measures of consumer confidence and labor market sentiment frequently used alongside indices from the Institute for Supply Management and the Conference Board-adjacent private indicators produced by outlets like Bloomberg L.P. and The Wall Street Journal. Its consumer confidence index is compared with data from central bank reports and household surveys conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The group also produces leading and coincident business cycle indicators that are used by economists studying signals similar to those from the National Bureau of Economic Research business cycle dating committee.

Governance and Funding

Governance is provided by a board of directors and trustees drawn from corporate CEOs, institutional investors, and academic leaders—profiles reminiscent of governance rosters at the Business Roundtable and corporate boards of firms such as ExxonMobil and Walmart. Funding sources include membership fees, paid research contracts, conference revenue, and philanthropic grants from foundations aligned with corporate philanthropy exemplified by the Gates Foundation and family offices tied to industrial dynasties. The organization’s nonprofit status situates it among peer institutions that blend membership services with policy research, paralleling models used by the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Enterprise Institute.

Criticism and Controversies

The organization has faced critique over potential conflicts of interest stemming from corporate funding and membership influence, paralleling debates about independence leveled at think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and American Civil Liberties Union in other contexts. Scholars and journalists have questioned whether corporate sponsors affect research framing, especially on topics like corporate governance, labor practices, and environmental policy, drawing comparisons to controversies involving consulting firms such as McKinsey & Company. Transparency advocates have urged more detailed disclosure of client relationships and funding, citing reporting standards championed by watchdogs like ProPublica and investigative journalism in outlets including The New York Times.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in New York City