Giving Compass' Take:

• Jeremie Greer urges action to close the existing racial gaps in nonprofit sector leadership in order to advance economic justice. 

• What role can funders play in advancing people of color in nonprofit leadership roles? Are you currently supporting nonprofits with people of color in leadership? 

• Learn about creating a diverse nonprofit leadership pipeline. 

Studies have documented that less than 20% of executives in the nonprofit sector are people of color. In 2017, Race to Lead issued a report debunking common myths often used to explain this disparity. By surveying people of color in the nonprofit sector they found that racial leadership disparities cannot be explained by:

  • differences in background or qualifications,
  • lack of aspiration to lead, or
  • deficits in skills or preparation.

Rather, they believe they are more accurately explained by:

  • the existence of an uneven playing field,
  • the stress of having to represent one’s race, and
  • systemic bias baked into the systems of nonprofit organizations.

As leadership roles within the nonprofit sector carry higher pay better benefits, and more stability and security, the closure of this gap has major economic justice implications.

Read the full article about racial gaps in the nonprofit sector by Jeremie Greer at Independent Sector.