Introducing a Series of Focused Briefs
Leading with Intent has long tracked trends in nonprofit board leadership. In 2023, we’ve taken a new approach to sharing those insights. Instead of a single, comprehensive report, the findings are presented as a series of focused briefs—each exploring a critical aspect of governance in greater depth.
These briefs draw on 2023 Leading with Intent data to examine how boards are structured, how they operate, and how governance practices shape organizational effectiveness. Each one connects data to real-world implications, offering a clearer view into how boards make decisions, whose perspectives are included, and how governance aligns with purpose.
Participant Profile Brief
This brief describes who is included in the 2023 Leading with Intent study—from organizational characteristics to board chair and chief executive demographics. These profiles set the context for the findings, shaping how we interpret board composition, leadership, and governance practices.
Methodology Brief
This brief explains how the 2023 Leading with Intent study was conducted, including how survey responses from chief executives and board chairs were collected and analyzed, and how external data from the IRS and Candid was used to strengthen the findings. It outlines who is included in the sample, how data was validated, and the key limitations to consider when interpreting results.
LWI 2023 Databook
This data book brings together the full set of survey responses from the 2023 Leading with Intent study in one place. It presents how chief executives and board chairs describe their boards across key areas such as composition, recruitment, performance, engagement, and governance practices. The focus is on what respondents reported—showing how boards operate in practice, where time is spent, and how leadership and effectiveness are experienced across organizations. Use this resource to review the underlying data behind the study and explore responses in detail across each area of governance.
Nonprofit Leadership & Board Composition Brief
Who sits at the table shapes how boards lead. This brief examines the demographic makeup of nonprofit boards and chief executives—including race, gender, age, and disability—and where representation gaps persist across leadership roles. It highlights how composition influences whose perspectives are included in governance and who holds positions of influence.
