Women in Nonprofits Don’t Profit

It is now well documented that women are underrepresented in leadership positions across all sectors of the American economy. Our primary line of work, the social/civic sector, has traditionally been female dominated, with an estimated 70% of workers being women. However, female representation within nonprofits diminishes at higher levels of leadership and governance: women comprise only 10% of nonprofit chief executives; 16% of board members; and 10% of board chairs. 

For women of color, the reality is even worse. Although Black women comprise 64% of Black nonprofit CEOs among the nonprofits they lead, the largest share have budgets of under $50,000. Conversely, among the nonprofits white women CEOs lead, the largest share have budgets between $1 million and $10 million. According to a 2024 Harvard Business Review article, men in female-dominated occupations often experience a faster and smoother rise to the upper levels of leadership than women. 

When examining larger nonprofits, white men typically hold more power and resources than women of all races. Male CEOs get paid on average 25% more than women. Of the 50 highest-paid executives at American charities and foundations, only 4 are women.

For many women, a commitment to make a positive difference is the reason they work for nonprofits, despite the lower pay and gender bias. Because of this, we should celebrate women in nonprofits by highlighting the impact of their work. Here’s what you can do:

• Support and donate to women-led nonprofits that empower women and promote gender equality.
• Volunteer with a nonprofit that focuses on issues affecting women, such as reproductive health or education.
• Recognize and amplify the voices and contributions of women within your local nonprofit community.
• Advocate for eliminating biases and prejudice in the nonprofit sector, such as closing the gender pay gap and promoting more women into leadership positions. 

By supporting women of color in leadership roles, we all benefit from more rich perspective and creativity to build a more equitable nation.

 

When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.

Audre Lorde

 

1 Candid. https://blog.candid.org/post/key-facts-on-nonprofit-black-leadership-candid-
abfe/#:~:text=Black%20women%20comprise%2064%25%20of,%241%20million%20and%20%2410%20million.
2 https://hbr.org/2024/04/more-women-work-in-nonprofits-so-why-do-men-end-up-leading-them