Hispanics Hold Few Leadership Positions at Calif. Nonprofit Groups

While Hispanics are a significant portion of California’s population, they fill only a small percentage of the leadership positions at nonprofit groups in the state, says a new report.

Hispanics make up 36 percent of California’s 36.7 million people, but hold 6 percent of the foundation and charity executive director positions, says the study. In addition, they fill 9 percent of the board seats at California charitable groups.

For other nonprofit staff positions, they are better represented, but still fall short. Twenty-eight percent of such jobs are held by Hispanics.

The report, by the Urban Institute, a think tank in Washington, says that the study shows that leadership posts are dominated by whites within California’s 34,250 or so nonprofit organizations. Racial and ethnic minorities hold 25 percent of such positions, but represent 57 percent of the population.

“Like the findings of other diversity reports, this study finds that the leadership of California’s nonprofit sector is not as diverse as its population,” it says.

Foundation Support

The report, Measuring Racial-Ethnic Diversity in California’s Nonprofit Sector, surveyed 1,736 groups, and was commissioned the California Endowment, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, and David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

These grant makers and others came under fire in recent years for not doing enough to support minority-led charities. After the public criticism, nine foundations, including the ones involved with the Urban Institute study, pledged $30-million to support minority groups.

The report also looked at the financial health of California charities, indicating that many are struggling. Sixty-five percent said they’ve experience a drop in revenue this year, with 62 percent saying they expected further declines in the near future.