In honor of International Women’s Day, we once again analyze the presence of women leading organizations in the Third Sector. In a context where gender equality remains an ongoing goal, the Third Sector stands out as a leader in terms of parity. Non-profit organizations continue to lead the way toward equitable representation in leadership roles, although with some nuances, as women tend to lead much smaller organizations.
The data reveal an encouraging picture: 54% of NGOs are led by women, and in 44% of them, the presidency is held by a woman.
These figures surpass the statistics from other sectors such as public, private, and academic fields. While only 32% of corporate boards are made up of women, in the Third Sector, women make up 48% of governing bodies. Both sectors have made significant progress in recent years, with the Third Sector always ahead. As shown in the following graph, the gaps are narrowing, as the Third Sector started from a more equitable position.
Evolution of Female Representation in Governing Bodies
Using other sectors as a reference, in the General State Administration (AGE), women in senior and high-ranking positions (up to director-general) represented 41.8% in 2023, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Universities reports that in the 2022-2023 academic year, 25.6% of full professors were women.
Our study sample includes 277 NGOs that have received the **Dona con Confianza** (Donate with Confidence) seal from Fundación Lealtad, which certifies transparency and best practices in the management of Spanish non-profit organizations.
Behind these figures are stories of committed women with outstanding careers. This year, we took a deeper look into the profile of women leading the Third Sector. Those who are part of governing bodies are between 45 and 65 years old, have a university education, and have been serving on the board or governing committee for nearly 10 years.
Those holding the presidency are somewhat older, between 55 and 75 years old, and have been part of governing bodies for an average of 15 years. Moreover, 24.6% of the presidents are family members of a beneficiary, and in social action associations (128 NGOs), this percentage rises to 38.4%.
“It is no coincidence that so many presidents of social action associations are family members of beneficiaries, because when they face a serious health issue or disability at home, they not only take on the role of caregiver, but also step up to help others in the same situation. They join an association, take on greater responsibilities, and have managed to professionalize organizations that began as family-led initiatives. I can only admire and thank them for their commitment and generosity,” explains Ana Benavides, director of Fundación Lealtad.
Major Differences
Although female representation in the leadership of the Third Sector is notable, there are differences among various types of organizations. Considering legal form, there is a higher proportion of women in governing committees (52%) than in boards of trustees (44%). Likewise, more associations are presided over by women (50%) than foundations (38%).
Looking at the age of the entity, the average number of women is higher in organizations created in the 21st century (53%) compared to those founded before 2000 (45%). Although there are hardly any differences in the gender of those occupying the presidency, there are differences in those who manage day-to-day operations. In younger entities, six out of ten are run by women, compared to five out of ten in entities created before 2001.
In terms of areas of activity, more women lead social action organizations (55%) than development cooperation NGOs (44%).
However, the most significant differences are found in the size of the organizations being managed. By budget size, the average proportion of women in governing bodies reaches 53% in organizations with less than €1 million, compared to 43% in those exceeding this amount.
Even more striking is the fact that when both the presidency and management are held by women, the average expenditure is €4.3 million, compared to €7 million in organizations led and managed by men.
It is also noteworthy that when the presidency is held by a man, the average proportion of women in the governing body is 38%, a figure that rises to 61% when a woman is in charge. This may be due, in part, to structural reasons within the organizations themselves.
In general, organizations led by women have smaller budgets (€5.2 million) than those led by men (€6.8 million). In other words, 80% of NGOs led by women have budgets below €3.6 million, while 80% of NGOs led by men have budgets below €7.3 million.
All this highlights the importance of continuing efforts to improve women’s access to leadership roles in larger organizations. However, it is important to note that some of the largest organizations are indeed led by women.
A Significant Employment Niche
The Third Sector represents 1.4% of GDP, according to data from the Social Action NGO Platform, and 3.2% of total employment, making it a relevant sector in terms of size. It is a sector with a high presence of women, who make up 71% of the workforce in accredited NGOs.
Once again, the Third Sector is paving the way in terms of gender equality. “As we continue moving towards more just and inclusive societies, it is essential to recognize and celebrate the achievements, while working together to overcome the remaining challenges. Although an initial analysis might suggest that parity has been achieved in the Third Sector, a deeper dive into the data reveals significant differences that warrant reflection,” concludes Ana Benavides.
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Fundacion Lealtad – See original publication – March 2024