A Conversation on Nonprofit Leadership Transitions with an Equity Frame

In the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, a fixed set of “best practices” has been the way to address executive transitions. Funders often work from a playbook embedded with a host of assumptions: how a search must be done, to the roles board and staff play, to what kinds of support new executives need. As organizations seek to invest in POC and people with relevant lived experience, they are finding that executive transition best practices are creating conditions which do not support these leaders or their institutions. For capacity builders, the moment invites us to lean into our commitment to the organization, to operate from a place of trust, and to share power.

The Building Movement Project’s new report Trading Glass Ceilings for Glass Cliffs: A Race to Lead Report on Nonprofit Executives of Color, focuses on the experiences and challenges of nonprofit leaders of color who have attained the top position in their organizations. It builds upon the findings of the 2019 Race to Lead Revisited report, as well as a previous report on nonprofit executives from the 2016 Race to Lead survey data. 

Frances Kunreuther, Co-Director of Building Movement Project, will share the report findings which demonstrate that the proverbial glass cliff is an all-too-common reality for leaders of color in the nonprofit sector. Ascending to an executive position does not end a leader’s struggles with racism, and sometimes increases those challenges. This member call will include space to hear and share regarding this work and what it means for your foundation.  

Objectives:  

• Hear highlights from the latest Race to Lead report, including: 
  • The racialized barriers that leaders of color overcome to attain their executive positions
  • What incoming BIPOC leaders experience and the support they value most
  • The persisting challenges experienced by people of color who hold executive leadership positions 
• Discuss the productive roles philanthropy can play in supporting leaders and organizations in transition