Donate
New Democracy Maps

Building LGBT Nonprofit Leadership Talent

The Bottom Line

Based on 18 months of research, Building LGBT Nonprofit Leadership Talent examines why intentional and consistent action to support, nurture and strengthen leadership talent should become an ingrained part of how lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement organizations conduct their day-to-day work. The report also offers practical recommendations for prioritizing the development of LGBT leadership.

  • Building LGBT Nonprofit Leadership Talent Download

Abstract

The LGBT movement has made tremendous strides in advancing legal and social equality in recent years. Yet at the same time, the movement has entered a period of leadership transition as longtime leaders begin to pass the torch to a new generation. Adding to the leadership challenge, both veteran and emerging leaders are facing new demands and heightened expectations in quickly shifting political and cultural climates. Organizations and funders agree that the time is right for increased investments in leadership for LGBT nonprofits, yet current investments in leadership are not keeping pace with the needs of the movement.

In order to build on recent victories and accelerate progress, MAP believes the movement must make a more intentional investment in supporting and strengthening its leaders. In Building LGBT Nonprofit Leadership Talent, MAP argues that supporting and strengthening leadership talent should be an explicit, long-term priority of the movement for LGBT equality, and provides both a vision and pragmatic recommendations for action.

The report proposes a five-part model for building nonprofit leadership, noting that the fundamental challenge facing the movement goes beyond the need to develop people; rather, it is about ensuring that organizations have the leadership talent they need. The MAP model for building nonprofit leadership involves:

  • Defining strategic aims
  • Recruiting great people
  • Deploying and managing people well
  • Developing people on the job and offsite
  • Retaining the best people

The recommendations that flow from this model include several joint initiatives that LGBT organizations can pursue together to strengthen talent building across the movement.

The report also includes a series of appendices, including a list of leadership development programs currently serving LGBT nonprofits, a leadership snapshot assessment tool, a list of recommended open-enrollment leadership development programs, and more.

 

Author

  • Movement Advancement Project

Report Partner

Stay Informed

Be the first to know about new reports and MAP news by signing up for our newsletter


Request User Access

A limited set of materials is restricted to the staff and board members of LGBTQ movement organizations. Click below to request user access.

Join MAP

View our privacy policy.

Sexual Orientation Policy Tally

The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or more than one sex or gender. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily protect or harm lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. That said, transgender people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual can be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Policy Tally

“Gender identity” is a person’s deeply-felt inner sense of being male, female, or something else or in-between. “Gender expression” refers to a person’s characteristics and behaviors such as appearance, dress, mannerisms and speech patterns that can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily protect or harm transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of gender or manner of dress does not adhere to gender stereotypes.

Choose an Issue