Most nonprofit agencies follow the same management structure. The structure normally consists of a vertical hierarchal structure with the chief executive manager at the helm, and divisional leaders rounding out the strategic leadership team. Since 9/11, then government shutdowns, multiple wars, natural disasters, and the government sequester, the challenge to most nonprofits is to compete for every available charitable dollar. Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of nonprofits must not only be skillful in maximizing the outcomes with fewer dollars, but also politically savvy in vying for monies for federal, state, local, foundation, and private funding sources. Because of this conundrum, political, academic, and social connections become …show more content…
One identified contributor to women's slower than expected assent into leadership is the persistence of assumptions and stereotypes that women are intrinsically "communal" or "dependent" and "passive", and therefore, lack the capacity to succeed as leaders. (National Academy of Sciences National Academy of Engineering Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2006 as cited by Isaac, Kaatz & Carnes, 2012). The main problem is the challenges to recruitment and retention of women in general, and the particular subset of African American women in particular. Quantitative analysis will be used to ascertain and organize data to offer empirical evidence that supports the claims of low representation of African American women in Philadelphia leadership roles; however, this qualitative study will delve into the causality of this phenomenon, and this qualitative study may offer new insights into the involvement, and articulation of business strategies surrounding recruitment and retention of, African American women in levels of leadership within the Commonwealth. And while this topic may cause discomfort to both the researcher and the interviewees, “discomfort is an important, even desirable component of qualitative research. Being uncomfortable makes us more aware and alert, stretches our thinking, and enriches our insight about the very struggles and experiences of the marginalized or
ReferencesRobert D. H. & Associates (2005). THE JOSSEY-BASS HANDBOOK OF NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
When it comes to the topic of women and leadership, there are many stereotypes one is likely to hear. One of the most common stereotypes about female leaders is that men are better leaders than women. Although we are able to see more males holding a leadership position that does not mean that they are “better” at it than women. Studies have shown that companies with women leaders often perform better (CITATION). Another stereotype associated with women and leadership is that women are too emotional to be in charge. Some also believe that women are weak and are not
The diversity of nonprofit organizations, services provided and the problems faced shows that nonprofits require leadership with an in-depth understanding of the multifaceted nonprofit landscape. Understanding the culture of nonprofit work is also crucial and much easier to understand once you have been through a nonprofit management program. My career interests lead me towards an avocation of a deeper knowledge of strategic management/planning, legal structure and standards, increase my skills in quantitative analysis of policy, financial governance and developing fundraising strategies. These areas allow for macro management within the nonprofit
Leadership - The perception of excellence in business leadership needs to be re-examined. This requires challenging the norms that determine leadership eligibility. Are there drivers that perpetuate a leadership incumbency that excludes females? What is the basis for these drivers?
At the center of any successful nonprofit organization there is an effective chief executive and board of directors. These leaders must work as a team with a vision and specific skills, to effectively produce resources in order to accomplish the organization's goals. The majority of the decision making authority and leadership is shared amongst board members; however, critical management skills and day-to-day operational decisions rest within the authority of the chief executive. However, members of the board must also be sufficiently skilled in management in order to assess the work of its director to assist in the implementation and evaluation of strategic decision making.
Do male, African American leaders manage employees differently than their Caucasian counterparts in the business industry? This question begs an answer because the study of leadership is limited since it seldom examines contributions from other perspectives. African American contributions to assorted fields are often espoused during Black History Month, yet their collective experience fails mentioning in such an important discipline as, leadership. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans comprise 13.2% of the population. Minorities will increase in the coming decades with the U.S. population becoming more ethnically and
One of the things that I have seen happen repeatedly is that some Executive Directors truly “fall in love” with their agency and fail to adjust to the needs of the stakeholders. One of the things that nonprofits need to do is to learn from the
The CEO of a nonprofit must distinguish himself not only as a financial manager but as a financial leader also by improving the nonprofit practice (Young, 2007). The CEO is commonly expected to collect data, produce reports, analyze findings, as well as offer financial solutions for short and long term objectives along with other daily operational duties. However, a CEO distinguishes him or herself as a financial leader by developing a business model that meaningfully impacts organizational productivity, sustainability, and propel nonprofits futuristic vision while remaining integral to its mission (Bell, 2016). This is accomplished in several ways such as, vigorous budgeting, attaining a net financial outcome, exploring futuristic expectations, performing financial projection assessments, evaluating income diversification options, etc. and work well with the organizational board.
All nonprofit organizations (NPO) are required, by law, to have a board of directors who act as the governing body of the nonprofit. Board governance is the overall responsibility for the performance of the organization. Boards exist to ensure that a NPO runs properly, has integrity, protects its stakeholders, and assures competent management with evaluations that provide accountability for their actions and performance. The basic structure of a nonprofit is divided into governance and administration. A nonprofit board chair serves as the executive leader of the organization’s board, while the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the top staff administrator
A nonprofit organization has turned into one prominent highlight to American life in which non-profits are the drivers of social change for the delivery of needed goods and services to the population (Hess & Bacigalupo 2013). Nonprofits expresses the American ideals and beliefs in which a group of volunteer members seek to provide societal benefit, identify social problems, and advocate for change (Heyman, 2011, pg 7). Nonetheless, nonprofits are essential to public policy and advocacy that has created a significant amount of pressure and demand on the role of leadership among those organizations. In this paper, I will discuss the aspect of leadership I found interesting on managing organizations and people, strategic and planning, and integrating
Within the upper echelons of upper management is scant room for African American women. This mini-proposal outlines a research project that focuses on the phenomena of the nominal amount of African American women are in positions of management or organizational leadership within the City of Philadelphia.
Running the local chapter of a national non-profit organization is a dynamic and rewarding career. The executive director ensures an organization meets its goals by overseeing a team of employees and volunteers, meeting with a board of directors, and accounting for the chapter’s finances (“What Does the Executive Director of a Non-Profit Organization Do?,” 2017). Much like an executive of a for-profit organization, the executive director of a non-profit also ensures that employees follow public policies and procedures (“What Top Executives Do,” 2018). With a strong background in strategic planning, interpersonal communication, and finance, the executive director oversees all areas of an organization in order to promote collaboration
suggests that both race and gender are alarming forces in the lives of African American women. This review of the literature will focus on African American women in higher education, career development, power issues affecting career development, and historical and current barriers. By examining the issues surrounding racial and gendered stereotypes, an understanding of the variables that persist in organizations that restrict the upward mobility of African American women in leadership can be
Using a grounded theory approach, the aim of this qualitative study is to develop a theoretical understanding of the trajectory of leadership careers for African American females in the US. The purpose of this study is two-fold; to examine underlying causes of why black women remain in low wage jobs to explain the economic impact of inequality of this undeserved group; and to assess the recent rising star African American female CEO Ms Ursula Burns at Xerox, who is currently the only female among three remaining African American male CEOs in the United States.
Gender and leadership? Leadership and gender? A journey through the landscape of theories start off by giving a statistical summary of percentages of women in higher echelon position in the workforce. With this information in the intro, the article quickly highlights the limited representation of women in exclusive positions in Fortune 500 companies. Next, the paper examines multiple theories why this problem exists in the workforce. The four theories examined are biology and sex; gender role; causal factors; and attitudinal drivers (Appelbaum et al, 2003, p. 44).