Sacramento’s non-profit sector lacks Latino leadership, despite the relatively diverse population of the River City. That’s according to a six-month study from Latinos LEAD, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization. Research found that Latinos consist of 10% of the board members at 103 organizations spanning Sacramento, Roseville and Folsom. In nearly 40%, or 41, of the boards, there were no Latinos.

Sacramento has approximately 388,000 Latinos, which represent about 29% of the region’s population. The population is expected to grow 14% by 2040. Patrick Salazar, Latinos LEAD founder, called the report an opportunity to provide a “level of transparency.” He said the under-representation deprives the Latino community of volunteer energy and charitable giving support — resources crucial to sustainability. At a briefing Tuesday afternoon, Salazar said the gap is significant. Salazar said this discrepancy is “not a new challenge, nor merely about marking a ‘checkbox.’” He is pushing for executive recruiting models, changing board cultures and hiring practices and governance training.

Read more at: Sacramento Bee