International Women's Day: Women's Leadership on Nonprofit Boards

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s honor the women who provide volunteer leadership through their service on global, national, and regional nonprofit boards. And let’s recognize the unique opportunity for younger generations of women to develop and contribute as leaders through nonprofit board service.

Boards have leadership authority in the nonprofit sector

Boards shape the missions, visions, strategies, fortunes, and ultimately, the success or failure of nonprofits. There are nearly 1.6 million nonprofits in the U.S. alone – organizations that provide education and healthcare, combat hunger and homelessness, protect human rights, preserve the environment, and make our lives more meaningful through the arts, just to name a few causes. Nonprofit boards have the full legal authority and responsibility for the organizations they serve.

Leadership opportunities for women: no glass ceilings on nonprofit boards

On nonprofit boards, the person who raises her hand and says, “I’ll help with that,” or “I’ll organize that initiative,” often gets to do it. There are an abundance of boards with no glass ceilings. Consequently, nonprofit boards provide extraordinary opportunities for women to engage at the highest levels of leadership – including as board chairs, vice chairs, secretaries of the board, treasurers, and committee chairs.

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