Phenomenological Study Exploring the Lived Experiences of African American Non-Profit Executives
In the past decade, the United States has grown increasingly diverse and as a resultexperienced continued growth in the number of non-profit organizations that provide vital services that strengthen society. Despite the increased need for services, there is a racial leadership gap in the non-profit sector, where leadership does not accurately reflect the populations that they serve. This is especially true for non-profit organizations that serve African Americans. A vast amount of literature demonstrates the influence of leadership training and development programs on nonprofit leadership, but there is a scarcity of research that examined African American non-profit leaders experiences. This phenomenological qualitative research study explored the lived experiences of African American executives in non-profit organizations to gain a deeper understanding of their unique challenges and identify strategies that may contribute to their success. To accomplish this goal, thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with current and former executives from National Urban League affiliates. Five themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Most Impactful Early Experiences, (2) Leadership Characteristics Brought to Executive Positions, (3) Facilitators of Advancement to Executive Roles, (4) Challenges Encountered on the Path to Leadership, and (5) The Role of Ongoing Professional Development. These recommendations have the potential to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion and provide implications for future research on African American leadership in the non-profit sector.
African American Leadership, Non-Profit Organizations, Professional Development, Succession Planning
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