The Glass Ceiling in Nonprofit Leadership
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Despite being a sector dominated by women, nonprofit leadership remains disproportionately male. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with Caitlin McBride to unpack the gender gap at the top.
They dig into everything from the “motherhood penalty” vs. the “fatherhood bonus,” to sneaky internalized biases and straight-up structural BS. Just because our sector talks about equity, doesn’t mean we're actually living it.
Whether you’re climbing the ladder, job hunting, or just trying to survive nonprofit life as a woman or gender-diverse human, this episode will leave you fired up, inspired, and feeling a little less alone.
The Glass Ceiling in Nonprofit Leadership with Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride
Nonprofit Leadership & Gender Equity – The Highlights:
Women are the backbone of the nonprofit workforce - but still left out of leadership: Despite making up 80% of the sector, women hold less than half of executive roles - and even fewer in larger organizations.
The world treats women’s time as infinite and men’s as precious: Women are expected to “figure it out” at work and home: juggling unpaid labor, emotional caretaking, and their careers without complaint.
Women are underpaid and undervalued: Orgs justify low salaries by pointing to women’s partners’ incomes, reinforcing harmful assumptions.
Green flags to look out for: From tampon access in bathrooms to child-friendly meeting times, true inclusion is in the details.
Does the org walk their equity talk? Representation alone isn’t enough if power dynamics remain unchanged.
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About Caitlin McBride and Maria Rio:
Caitlin is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive with over a decade of experience across large nonprofits in the UK and grassroots charities in Canada. She is known for building authentic, values-driven donor relationships and developing sustainable systems that deepen the donor experience. A published writer with a post-graduate diploma in Professional Communications, Caitlin also serves as vice-chair of the board at New Westminster Family Place in British Columbia.
Maria Rio is the CEO and founder of Further Together, a Fractional Fundraising consulting firm she launched in January 2023. As a refugee who arrived in Canada at an early age, Maria’s personal experience with charitable services fueled her passion for nonprofit work. An advocate for Community-Centric Fundraising, Maria uses her lived experience to push for innovative, equity-driven approaches in the nonprofit sector.
Actionable tips for building gender equity in nonprofit leadership:
Audit your board and leadership team. Who’s excluded? Why?
Review your parental leave, flexibility, and caregiving policies.
Make mentorship visible and accessible.
Challenge assumptions about who “should” lead, what leadership looks like, and whose time we value.
If you’re a woman applying for a new role, negotiate like a man. You’re worth it.
Resources:
Connect with Us:
Maria Rio – Connect on LinkedIn
Caitlin McBride – Connect on LinkedIn
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P.S. Think your ED doesn’t get it? Tired of chasing board approvals? Next week we’re going to tackle how to manage up, advocate for your work, and stop spinning your wheels. Our next episode will help you work smarter, not harder.
