Why Women Leaders in Nonprofits Need 50 Women Can Change The World
The 50 Women Can Change The World program in Arizona aims to enhance leaders in the nonprofit sector.
Are you a woman working in Arizona’s nonprofit sector who wants to advance faster in leadership?
Are you passionate about the nonprofit sector and advancing your career in the field?
Are you committed to increasing the opportunities for women in your organization?
50 Women Can Change The World is based on Gloria Feldt’s award-winning book, No Excuses: Nine Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power. Based on the 9 Leadership Power Tools To Advance Your Career, this program empowers women to embrace their leadership and propel themselves and their organization forward.
We are filling the inaugural class now and you can register here. What participants will learn:
A new and appealing definition of power that will energize and embolden them.
To understand organizational cultures and how to overcome the obstacles and barriers that have held (and still hold) women back.
To develop a personalized Strategic Leadership Plan to guide them long after the program is over.
9 Power Tools and a system for applying them to reach (and exceed) their goals.
The programs begin in August and runs through December 2016 (3 full-day and 2 half-day program days).
Why 50 Women Can Change The World is Needed Now
The nonprofit sector is an often overlooked and important economic driver with its 10.7 million employees making up just over 10 percent of the nation’s private workforce. The economic strength of the nonprofit sector has increased in recent years and the sector is now the third largest employer in the U.S.
Nearly 2 million nonprofit organizations employ 10.7 million people and produce revenue in excess of $1.9 trillion. A new, comprehensive study, “Arizona Nonprofits: Economic Power, Positive Impact,” reveals that the nonprofit sector generates more than $22.4 billion to the state’s economy. It is 8 percent of the state’s Gross State Product and ranks as the 5th largest non-governmental employer.
The Nonprofit Gender Gap Still Exists
According to the GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report, in 2012, nationally female CEOs made 11 percent less than their male counterparts at nonprofits with budgets of $250,000 or less. Female CEOs and women leaders at nonprofits with budgets between $25 and $50 million made 23 percent less. And women leaders led only 17 percent of nonprofits with budgets of more than $50 million.
A lack of women leaders and female leadership isn’t just a problem in the nonprofit sector. Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, touched on the gender gap issue in her TED talk “Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders.” “The problem is this—women are not making it to the top of any profession, anywhere in the world,” Sandberg said.
Ironically, according to research by The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, the gender pay gap is even greater in the nonprofit sector. Yes, the same sector which works tirelessly toward ending injustices, breaking down barriers and fighting for equality. The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management’s “74% Project” has found that a woman working for a nonprofit is making even less than the national average, at only 75 cents on the dollar.
Gender inequality is still a significant challenge throughout the country. As Lyndsey Hrabik recently wrote in Nonprofit Hub, the vast majority of workers and volunteers are women—75 percent as of 2011. But in top positions, the numbers are much lower as only 45 percent of women held top positions at nonprofit organizations. Almost half would be a great number, if the gender ratio in the industry were equal.
There are still a few spaces left to get in on this exciting training with other women making their mark on our community. Interested in learning more?
Here is a description of the program and the application form.
For more information on Take the Lead’s activities in Arizona, contact Alison Rapping, Arizona Director at AlisonRapping@TakeTheLeadWomen.com
This program is sponsored by American Express Foundation, APS, Copperpoint Mutual Insurance Co., Freeport-McMoRan, Frontdoors, Dr. Mitchell and Kerry Giangobbe and Veincare of Arizona, SRP and the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation.
About the Author
ALISON J. RAPPING is Take The Lead’s Arizona chapter Director. She works primarily with Take The Lead’s Leadership Council to share and expand Take The Lead’s training programs. For over 20 years, she’s served nonprofit organizations and community initiatives in the areas of capacity building, organizational effectiveness, fundraising, and resource development. A recognized leader in the nonprofit community, she has been responsible for providing strategic direction for a variety of organizations, managing extensive volunteer structures including Boards of Directors and creating fundraising plans to support year-round programs and activities.