Report That Nonprofit Leadership Gap Grew 43 Percent Sparks “Call to Action” by Sector Stakeholders

BOSTON, May 20, 2009 — The Bridgespan Group’s recent report, “Finding Leaders for America’s Nonprofits,” which predicts a deficit of sector leadership of more than 20,000 for 2009, has spurred vigorous dialogue among nonprofit leaders and the foundations that support them.

The survey of 433 U.S. nonprofit leaders was commissioned by American Express to determine the nature and dimensions of the evolving nonprofit leadership deficit, the training and development needs within the sector, and to look at how managerial skills from the business sector can boost leadership capacity among nonprofits. A follow up to a 2006 study “The Nonprofit Sector’s Leaders Deficit,” the survey reveals a gap 43 percent wider than the Bridgespan Group’s prior findings.