In 2007, Barry Dym was a consultant to nonprofits when he observed that there was very little diversity in the ranks of senior management. That realization contributed to his founding of the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership. The Boston Foundation was “there at the beginning” with a $75,000 seed grant.

Today, concerns about diversity in the nonprofit workforce have gained urgency for Greater Boston. Interest in the issue was reflected by the hundreds of nonprofit stakeholders who attended a forum on October 18 at the Boston Foundation titled Race to Lead: Confronting the Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap.

The forum, which was co-hosted by Barr Foundation, focused on the need for vastly increased diversity in nonprofit leadership and the inclusion of people of color at every organizational level.  The forum was inspired by the Boston Foundation’s Nonprofit Effectiveness strategy, which supports and promotes effective, inclusive and sustainable nonprofits in Greater Boston. “Nonprofit leaders are the primary drivers of change in the organizations and communities they serve,” says Jennifer Aronson, Associate Vice President for Programs. “Our goal is to support, develop and recognize the nonprofit sector’s leaders and to build the sector’s leadership pipeline.”

Today, the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership is called the Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) and the Boston Foundation has supported it with just under $1 million in grants over the last 10 years.  Now based in Needham and affiliated with Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life, INP offers a Core Certificate Program for managers and executives and a Community Fellows Program for social justice-oriented emerging leaders with a focus on advancing people of color early in their careers. INP’s year-long programs are part-time and designed for working professionals. Graduates receive an affordable certificate in management and leadership from Tufts’ Tisch College.

Read the full article about diverse and inclusive nonprofit leadership at The Boston Foundation.