Your instincts are valid.

Your leadership doesn’t need to wait for permisson

Over my years in the nonprofit sector, I’ve witnessed and experienced a pattern that’s hard to unsee. Women, despite strong performance and deep commitment, are often strung along with vague promises of promotion and compensation that never fully materialize.

Recently, I supported a talented woman who’s been told for nine months that her raise and role upgrade are “in progress.” She’s still waiting. The silence is loud.

She’s not alone. Women make up 75% of the nonprofit workforce but occupy only 30% of leadership roles in larger organizations. They’re paid less, earning just 75–85 cents on the dollar compared to men in similar roles. (Source: Building Movement Project, Race to Lead; Chronicle of Philanthropy)

Many women in nonprofits are implicitly (and sometimes explicitly) encouraged to sacrifice compensation and advancement “for the mission.” This idea, deeply rooted in nonprofit culture, can lead to burnout, stagnation, and the loss of exceptional leaders.

“The expectation of self-sacrifice in mission-driven work disproportionately impacts women, who are often told to be patient, loyal, and grateful.” (Source:Race to Lead: Women of Color in the Nonprofit Sector, Building Movement Project).

This isn’t just frustrating. It’s systemic. It’s gendered. And it quietly undermines the missions we say we serve.

To the women out there navigating these dynamics, your instincts are valid.
Your time is valuable. And your leadership doesn’t need to wait for permission.

Mary McGuinness is a certified ICF leadership and personal development coach whose mission is to help others maximize their potential to create ambitious plans for themselves, their organizations, and the teams they lead. You can find out more about Mary and how she provokes imagination that leads to dramatic results at marymcguinness.com.