Women are missing out on fundraising leadership roles, new research findsWomen are missing out on fundraising leadership roles, new research findsWomen are missing out on fundraising leadership roles, new research findsWomen are missing out on fundraising leadership roles, new research finds
  • About us
  • Membership
  • EFA Certification
  • Fundraising Europe
  • News
  • Events
  • Resources
  • About us
  • Membership
  • EFA Certification
  • Fundraising Europe
  • News
  • Events
  • Resources
Dutch charities spend 90% of total income on delivering social good
March 4, 2020
CFRE logo
Italian Fundraising Award winners awarded CFRE scholarship
March 16, 2020

Women are missing out on fundraising leadership roles, new research finds

March 4, 2020
Categories
  • News
  • United Kingdom
Tags
  • Diversity
  • Research
Missing Out report

Ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March 2020), new research into female leadership in fundraising has been published in the UK. The study finds that lack of work flexibility, appropriate health policies and prevalent gender stereotyping mean that women are missing out on leadership roles.

‘Missing Out: Understanding the female leadership gap in fundraising’ was commissioned by the Institute of Fundraising as part of its Change Collective strategy, a campaign to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in the fundraising profession. The research was carried out by Dr Beth Breeze, director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, and Dr Elizabeth J Dale, assistant professor in Nonprofit Leadership at Seattle University, USA.

Dr Elizabeth J Dale commented:

“It was troubling to see that gender stereotyping continues to be so prevalent, especially among donors and board members who undermine female fundraisers’ roles. This research calls on the entire sector, and society more broadly, to not only recognise women’s talent and leadership ambition but to rethink how to address tensions between work and family and create additional supports so that more women can obtain leadership roles.”

Key findings show that the salaries of male and female fundraisers typically begin around the same level but that the gap grows over the course of their careers. Amongst those working full-time, men reported salaries that were 14.3% higher than women.

The main barrier for women in realising their leadership ambition is insufficient flexibility in relation to hours and working patterns. Women also experienced a lack of recognition of, and appropriate policies to account for, the full range of women’s health needs. Female fundraisers are far more likely than men to say that they have experienced stereotyping and/or preconceptions based on their gender.

Informed through almost 800 responses to an online survey, focus groups, and case studies, the report provides recommendations for charities, fundraisers and the Institute to address barriers that female fundraisers face in their careers.

Recommendations include that charities should invest in promoting and recruiting diverse candidates to boards and senior management, educate trustees about stereotyping and preconceptions based on gender, and have a zero harassment policy in place. Charities were also advised to offer greater flexibility, and to be clear on flexible working conditions in job adverts.

Speaking at the launch of the research: Carol Akiwumi, chair of the Institute of Fundraising’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said:

“For a long time we have known that the sector has a problem in equal representation at senior levels when it comes to gender. We need to change that, and now is the time for action and transformation.”

Dr Beth Breeze added:

“Clearly, the current career ladders in fundraising are not supporting all of the talented people who aspire to reach leadership roles. I hope the recommendations are read and taken seriously by all who are committed to strengthening the fundraising profession and its positive impact on society. Together we can make sure that talent rises to the top.”

This news follows the IoF’s recent announcement that it has been granted Royal Charter status.

 

Share

Related posts

Globe image
February 22, 2021

Vibrancy of diverse European civil society unveiled in new report


Read more
data security
February 19, 2021

EU agrees position on ePrivacy rules


Read more
AEF report on foundations
February 10, 2021

Spanish foundation sector’s development & impact revealed in new report


Read more

Sign up to our free monthly news and features

  • Latest news
  • Latest features
  • News from EFA
  • Fundraising Europe
  • Advertise with EFA

Search news by country or category

News by date

Popular topics

  • Research
  • Coronavirus
  • Professional development
  • Individual giving
  • Philanthropic trends
  • Digital
  • Events
  • Legacies
  • Collaboration
  • Tax incentives

Events Calendar

< March 2021 >
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2Nonprofit Day 2021 / La grande sfida del nonprofit (Eng/It) all day
Conference
Online (Festival del fundraising)
3 4Nonprofit Women Camp (Italian) all day
Three-day online event
Nonprofit Women Camp Committee Marketing & Fundraising: Two sides of the same coin? (Dutch) from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Masterclass
Online (Fundraisers Alliance Belgium)
5Nonprofit Women Camp (Italian) all day
Three-day online event
Nonprofit Women Camp Committee
6Nonprofit Women Camp (Italian) all day
Three-day online event
Nonprofit Women Camp Committee
7
8 9Case for Support (German) all day
Fundraising Verband Austria (Online Seminar)
Data Driven Fundraising (Dutch) from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Masterclass
Online (Fundraisers Alliance Belgium)
10AEFR Inbound Marketing Strategy Series (Spanish) all day
Session 2: Donor recruitment
Online Seminar
11Legacy Fundraising Webinar (English) from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Richard Radcliffe: Legacy Fundraising - How to do it right and successfully
NPO Academy
Online
12Legacy Fundraising Webinar (English) from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Richard Radcliffe: Legacy Fundraising - How to do it right and successfully
NPO Academy
Online
13 14
15 1615th Fundraising Conference for Higher Education (French) all day
3-day online conference
AFF Fundraisers
17Insamlingsforum Online 2021 (Swedish / English) all day
Two-day annual conference (Giva Sverige / Give Sweden)
Online
18 19 20 21
22 23Content Marketing for Nonprofits (German) all day
Fundraising Verband Austria (Online Seminar)
ERNOP Seminar: Sustaining Voluntary Energy (English) from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Seminar by Professor Lucas Meys from the Rotterdam School of Management
Online CFRE Webinar: How to become a CFRE in EMEA (English) from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Webinar
24AEFR Inbound Marketing Strategy Series (Spanish) all day
Seminar 3: Education, Closure & Loyalty
Online Diploma in Fundraising (English) all day
CIOF: Fundraising Diploma (One year course, flexible study time, fixed assignment deadlines and exam date)
Booking deadline: 3rd March
25 26 27 28
293rd Digital Social Summit (German) all day
Two-day online conference organised by the Bürgerermut Foundation
30 31        

Registered Office

James Wattstraat 100
NL-1097 DM Amsterdam
Netherlands

EFA is registered at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce
Reg. No. 34212817

Contact

Executive Officer, Denise Dawes
denise.dawes@efa-net.eu

Media enquiries:
news@efa-net.eu

Follow us

Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn

Search

© 2021 EFA | European Fundraising Association. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy