Who Knew? The Washington Post Cares About Emerging Nonprofit Leaders

A new report about the next generation of nonprofit leaders was released today. The survey, Ready to Lead? Next Generation Leaders Speak Out, the largest national survey to date of emerging nonprofit leaders was produced by the Meyer Foundation in partnership with CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, The Annie E. Casey Foundation and Idealist.org. They surveyed 6,000 emerging leaders and found, guess what? That many of us do, in fact want to become nonprofit executive directors, but low pay and lack of work/life balance turns us off. Younger workers and people of color will be the most likely successors of today’s nonprofit leaders. And, we need mentors and leadership development to help prepare us for the next level. It’s a great report to be sure, but really this is no newsflash. I really hope this is the final report on this issue and now foundations and nonprofits can finally start doing something real to solve the problem.

In the meantime, the Washington Post is keeping interest high on this one. This morning’s article, “Crunch Predicted in Nonprofit Sector” quotes me and this blog! (see page 2). Today at 1pm, the Post is also hosting an online discussion about the issues in the new report and in the article:

Albert Ruesga, one of the study’s co-authors and a vice president at the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, and Paul C. Light, a nonprofits expert and professor at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service, will be online Monday, March 3, at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the crisis in leadership faced by the nonprofit sector. Submit your questions and comments before or during today’s discussion.

Mary

I have been seriously considering a university job, doing something I feel much less passionate about, but which will provide me some stability and a different lifestyle. Can I fulfill my social conscience by volunteering after hours? I really don’t know. But as the article mentioned, it’s hard to imagine most non-profits planning strategically for the future when it’s such a struggle just to keep the lights on today. This, along with the ‘we’ve always done it this way’ mindset of most middle-aged NP leaders, certainly does not bode well. Reading your blog gives me some hope; I think you could carry the sector forward solo!
Rosetta Thurman

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Mary – this is a huge problem for those who want to work where their heart is. I want to work for a nonprofit, but there are also other ways to do good in the world by volunteering, serving on a board, helping a group fundraise, etc. I think sometimes we just need to expand our scope of what doing good looks like. And it doesn’t necessarily mean a full-time job in the nonprofit field, though we really do need your talent! But the most important thing is your happiness and financial well-being for you and your family.