For Immediate Release
Contact:
media@womensfundingnetwork.org
The partnership aims to uncover new insights about racial and gender equity in the nonprofit sector.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Women’s Funding Network (WFN), the world’s largest philanthropic alliance for gender equity, in partnership with Candid, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Intersectional Dashboard Design Cohort, a new initiative that brings together nonprofit experts in demographic data, research, and analytics to create a first-of-its-kind interactive tool.
The development of this tool responds directly to an increasing demand for intersectional data analysis in philanthropic and nonprofit communities and aligns with WFN’s commitment to advancing equity through rigorous, data-informed approaches. Demographic data about nonprofits is increasingly recognized as an important element of organizational transparency and funder accountability, but until recently has not been easily accessible to the public. Nonprofits make up 10% of the U.S. workforce, yet the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) only releases data about the nonprofit sector every five years—and without the comprehensive demographic analysis available in the monthly and quarterly reports generated about the private sector.
“The combination of Candid’s demographic data collection and WFN’s deep experience leveraging data for change creates the unique opportunity to offer a previously unseen view of nonprofit leadership at the intersection of race and gender,” said Ann Mei Chang, CEO of Candid. “WFN’s track record of success and widespread community trust make them a natural partner to develop and implement this dashboard.”
The cohort, whose work begins in November 2024, will base their analysis on the rich demographic data from Candid’s Demographics via Candid dataset, offering a quantitative foundation for evaluating and enhancing equity efforts across the sector. The cohort will design a user-friendly interface for dynamic comparative analysis, allowing funders, researchers, and movement organizations to analyze executive leadership trends through the lenses of race, gender, location, organization size, budget, subject area, and populations served.
Meet the WFN Dashboard Cohort Members:
The cohort includes experts with extensive experience in nonprofit data, finance, advocacy, research, and gender equity:
- Carolyn Van Nelson, Director of Finance and Technology, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
- Shawnda Chapman, Former Director of Innovative Grantmaking and Research, Ms. Foundation for Women
- Travis Speice, Applied Research Director,The Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
- Aleeka Kay Morgan, Executive Director, Nurturing Wāhine Fund
- Viviana Alvarado Pacheco, Senior Research and Policy Manager, The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade
- Taryn Kearns, Learning and Evaluation Officer, Global Fund for Women
- Maria Casey, Database and Reporting Associate, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation & Fund for Women and Girls
- Mara Montante, Knowledge Management Coordinator, WNY Women’s Foundation
- Solace Mensah-Narh, Data Analyst, G4GC
- Cesar del Valle, Partnerships Director, Candid
Together, this talented team will drive the creation of a tool designed to bring visibility to disparities within the nonprofit sector that is often masked by aggregated data. By establishing a measurable baseline for progress, the dashboard will inform actionable strategies for a more equitable sector.
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About WFN: With more than 120 women’s funds and foundations spanning six continents, the Women’s Funding Network is the largest global philanthropic alliance dedicated to providing strategies, research, and resources that support the critical agency and influence of women’s foundations and gender justice funders in the movement for equality, justice, and power for all. Visit the Women’s Funding Network website for more information, or X, Facebook, and Instagram.
About Candid: Candid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides the most comprehensive data and insights about the social sector. Every year, millions of nonprofits spend trillions of dollars around the world. Candid finds out where that money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Candid was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged. Candid combined GuideStar’s tools on nonprofits and Foundation Center’s tools on foundations with new resources to offer more comprehensive, real-time information about the social sector. Find out more at candid.org and on LinkedIn and Instagram.