Recent studies of nonprofit leaders in Baltimore and San Francisco report that, on average, executive directors of nonprofit organizations stay on the job three years. They then leave the nonprofit sector altogether!

In Portland we have experienced a dramatic exodus of leaders of color from major nonprofit agencies in the last few years. In some cases these departures resulted in the closure of agencies providing critical community services, or a merger with mainstream organizations. Even in cases in which capable new leaders were appointed, the organizations (their staff, boards, and clients) experienced unhealthy periods of instability.

Oregon has a history of looking outside the state for people of color rather than developing local people of promise. Traditionally, nonprofit organizations, especially in communities of color, have not received assistance to plan for leadership transitions. Many nonprofit leaders have expressed frustration that they have been unable to identify or groom leaders who could succeed them.

THE OPPORTUNITY

In 1999, INPM and leaders in this community decided it was time to change this. It was time to look inward and to develop our own local talent. This meant first identifying the many talented people of color who can and should receive education and training to lead nonprofit agencies now and in the future. Through the Leadership Fellows Program, our local leaders and INPM at PSU forged a partnership to strengthen and support community-based organizations that struggle daily to provide critical services to meet community needs.

This program is unique, not only in this community but across the country. Other colleges and universities want INPM to share this model. Why is it unique? Because it specifically addresses the leadership development needs of people of color, and was developed by and for people of color who work in nonprofit organizations serving diverse populations. It is unique because it is based on a set of beliefs that leadership is not so much about developing individuals but on developing communities to serve diverse ethnic populations.

The program uses a spiritual, familial and multicultural approach to leadership development, a model consistent with the values of communities it serves.

The Leadership Fellows Program offers leaders and potential leaders of color working in nonprofit organizations opportunities to:

• build and strengthen management and leadership skills;
• share knowledge and experiences in a community of leaders;
• develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader;
• build leadership in a cross cultural context.