If you are unhappy with the number of women on the board of one or more of the companies in which the fund has major investments, here's how to express your point of view:

• Write the fund, using the following (or similar) language for your comments:

  "I note that the fund has invested heavily in the stock of [name of company]. That company has no (only one, only two) women serving on its board of directors despite the fact that women make up a substantial portion of its shareholders, customers, and employees. Why are there no (so few) women? Men and women expect the board to closely reflect the company's stakeholders. More women directors are good for governance and good for business. We are looking for you to exercise your proxy in [name of the company]'s board elections in a way that will make sure the representation of women is improved."

Refer to your mutual fund annual reports to identify the top ten holdings of each fund.

If you are unhappy that the fund's proxy voting guidelines do not take board diversity into account, here's how to express your point of view:

• Write the fund, using the following (or similar) language for your comments:

"I have read the fund's proxy voting guidelines and am dismayed that none of them address the issue of board diversity. Women make up a substantial portion of most companies' shareholders, customers, and employees, and men and women today expect boards and executive suites to closely reflect company stakeholders. More women in leadership positions are good for governance and good for business. You are in a position to improve the representation of women in the leadership of the companies in which the fund invests by adopting and implementing proxy voting guidelines such as one of the following:

The Fund will oppose slates of directors that result in a board that does not include women and may oppose slates of directors that include women if the Fund concludes that the number of women on the board is not a fair representation.

The Fund will normally withhold votes from a slate of board nominees if the board does not include any women.

The Fund will support shareholder proposals to increase diversity on the board of directors or that ask the company to take steps to nominate more women to the board.

I hope that you will do so promptly."

Mutual fund annual reports and proxy statements tell you how to find proxy voting guidelines and voting history.

If you are unhappy with the number of women on the board of the fund, here's how to express your point of view:

• Whether or not you are given an opportunity to elect the trustees or directors of the fund, write to the independent trustees/directors. These individuals and the manner in which you can communicate with them are identified in mutual fund reports, proxy statements or in some cases, in a Statement of Additional Information. You may want to use the following (download a sample) language for your comments:

  "Women make up a substantial portion of your investors and employees. I notice there are no (only one, only two) women serving on your board of trustees. Why are there no (so few) women? Men and women expect the board to closely reflect your stakeholders. More women trustees are good for governance and good for business. We are looking for you to quickly take steps to make sure the representation of women is improved."

  Your feedback is important!

  When you take any of these actions, please

  JavaScript must be enabled to display this email address.

  what you have done and what responses you have received. Your feedback is important to ION's educational and advocacy efforts. It will help us to become more effective in bringing about change in the composition of corporate leadership. Your participation in this effort will also help obtain greater publicity for the important role being played by women investors. Thank you for helping us to make a difference!