Date of Conferral

6-24-2024

Date of Award

June 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Emmanuel Tetteh

Abstract

Although nonprofit organizations are essential in addressing social and community concerns to enhance the lives of individuals and groups, Black women face barriers in nonprofit leadership roles. Crucial to such hurdles is the perception that their voices are often disproportionately missing from leadership-based research on women. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of 26 Black women in mid- to senior-level nonprofit leadership roles regarding their experiences and critical factors contributing to the success, challenges, and barriers they face in leadership roles. Black feminist thought theory in work leadership, family, and Black women’s oppression was used as the theoretical framework that guided the study. A qualitative narrative inquiry was used to address two research questions on the (a) perceptions and experiences of Black women in mid to senior-level nonprofit leadership roles and (b) critical factors contributing to success, challenges, and barriers Black women face in leadership positions. A semistructured virtual interview and thematic analysis with the NVivo computer-assisted software were used for data collection and analysis. These yielded five themes—childhood experiences, service for others, administrative challenges, leadership barriers, and opportunities. The study’s results indicated that Black women enter nonprofit leadership out of a desire to serve their communities and that Black women face critical barriers, including a lack of upward mobility and discrimination. Positive social change implications include the view that Black female leaders in nonprofit organizations can provide insight into best practices and policies that help support and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in these organizations, resulting in improved community outcomes.

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