Letter to the Editor, Chronicle of Philanthropy (Oct. 15, 2009)

To the Editor:

I commend The Chronicle of Philanthropy for the article “A Man’s World” (Sept. 17), which provided results of a diversity survey of nonprofit leadership.

It is difficult to accurately assess progress in the nonprofit industry without informative data — so it is particularly helpful to have this information.

The fact that 6.3 percent of the Philanthropy 400 CEO’s are people of color versus 34.4 percent of the U.S. population presents an opportunity to close a significant talent gap.

The current recession is causing hardship across the nation. Nonprofits are facing declining revenue, layoffs, and the pressure to do more with less. The author Jim Collins and several national studies have confirmed that talent is the most significant determinant of an organization’s success.

Studies also show that diverse teams — managed effectively — produce better and more creative solutions to problems. This makes it more important than ever to have the most talented and diverse staff possible.

The nonprofit sector cannot achieve the best results for the nation without full access to the most talented members from every segment of the labor force.

If we wait until the recession is over, nonprofits will face increased competition for talent from corporations and the government, so now is the time for nonprofit boards and CEO’s to develop and implement strategies to recruit and develop diverse talent.

Michael Watson

Senior Vice President for Human Resources

Girl Scouts of the USA

New York