I received a report in my mailbox today titled ‘Race to lead’ which deals with the issue of challenges that leaders of color face, in the nonprofit sector, in the U.S.

Many of the issues highlighted in the report are quite familiar to me : lack of funding, board of directors not taking you seriously. The report adds “Nonprofit EDs/CEOs of color report more challenges in their relationships with boards of directors when the boards are predominantly white.”

The report also points to the challenge of access to support for leaders of color.

Critics may point to the self-reporting bias and a sense of victimization that leaders of color may have. I have heard this argument myself. However, there is no denying that salary data, experiences of people in leadership positions to tell us a story. And unfortunately, it is not the prettiest one.

What do you think about this report? What is your own experience in leadership – if you are a person of color?