Making (or Taking) Space: Transitions from White to BIPOC Leaders
by the Building Movement Project
This report was initiated by the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation and researched and written by the Building Movement Project. We’re reposting it here in hopes that it’s as useful to you as it has been to us! –CF
The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation (RSCF) has observed that many organizations are eager to transition from white leaders to leaders of color, but that they often do not have the experience, expertise, commitment, or supports in place to fully embrace new leadership and make these transitions successful or joyful. Too often, it is the new leaders of color who pay the price for under-prepared organizations. As RSCF continues to understand and move resources to directly support leaders of color during these transitions, they wanted to take a closer look at themselves and their grantee community.
The Building Movement Project, on behalf of the RSCF, wrote this report to shine a light on one small group of organizations. The report offers some findings, rather than recommendations. It helps to better understand the realities of what is happening on the ground as groups like RSCF seek to develop a better set of considerations and capacities for releasing and sharing power that white people in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors must hold themselves accountable to, particularly during this critical period.
