Women are still fighting for leadership equity in the nonprofit sector.
By Trinady Joslin, Illustrations by Jessica Wetterer
45 Percent
While women dominate the nonprofit sector, they make up only 45 percent of nonprofit CEOs. For nonprofits with a budget of more than $25 million, only 21 percent have female CEOs. Regardless of budget, less than 20 percent of nonprofit CEOs are people of color, a statistic that has been relatively stagnant for the past 15 years.
40 Percent
Nationally, around 11 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, but according to the most recent data, around 40 percent of Austin-area single mothers and their children live in poverty. Nonprofits like Dress for Success and Stop Abuse for Everyone combat this statistic by providing women with clothes for interviews and safe spaces. National nonprofit The Jeremiah Project supports single moms joining the workforce and receiving education. This past year, 94 percent of moms involved in the nonprofit’s Austin program took higher-education classes.
9.2 Million
According to the most recent data, 9.2 million women work in the nonprofit sector and make up about 73 percent of the total nonprofit workforce.
$12.3 Million
Every year, Amplify Austin Day raises millions of dollars for local nonprofits, and over the past seven years, it’s raised more than $57 million. This year, under the leadership of Executive Director Courtney Manuel, it raised $12.3 million in 24 hours.
7 Percent
Following the #MeToo movement, donations to women’s organizations increased by 7 percent. The Time’s Up Legal Defense, an organization dedicated to helping women pursue legal action against sexual misconduct and harassment claims, raised $22 million within its first year. Fundraising for nonprofits Physicians Reproductive Health and National Abortion Rights Action League Pro-choice America spiked heavily, raising 61 percent and 91 percent more funds respectively. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network also experienced a 42-percent increase in donations.