Representation, Nonprofit Leaders of Color, and Job Attraction: A Survey Experiment

Abstract

Research has shown that nonprofits led by people of color (POC) tend to have more diverse staff compared to White-led organizations, yet it remains unclear whether leaders of color inherently attract racially diverse talent. Using an online experiment, this study investigates the impact of the racial/ethnic composition of nonprofit leadership on job-seeking behaviors. While participants consistently view POC-led nonprofits as more committed to diversity, this positive perception does not influence their job choices. When given a choice, White individuals tend to prefer working for White-led nonprofits, whereas people of color show no strong preference between POC-led and White-led nonprofits. The results shed light on the complexities of racial representation in talent acquisition, offering important insights into the broader discourse on nonprofit diversity and the persistent barriers POC-led organizations face in achieving diverse staffing.