Leaders remain white and male

How diverse are Minnesota's philanthropists?

The Minnesota Council on Foundations offers a glimpse in a study released Tuesday. It found that board rooms continue to be overwhelmingly white and male, but there are subtleties in staffing in other areas.

The study, based on 80 Minnesota foundations, showed:

•Ninety percent of the chairs of boards of directors were white, 4 percent were black and 3 percent were Indian and Asian. Sixty-two percent were male.

•Among staff who weren't CEOs, presidents or vice presidents, 83 percent were white and 6 percent were black. Asians, Hispanics and Indians comprised 4 percent or less.

•Women overwhelmingly filled all non-executive jobs, such as program officers, comprising 73 percent.

The figures haven't changed much in the past 15 years, the report said.

The research was based on information gathered from foundations and corporate giving programs, representing about 57 percent of Minnesota's annual grant making.

It examined foundation staffing and compared it to the broader Minnesota workplace. The comparison put some figures in perspective.

African-Americans, for example, represent about 4 percent of the Minnesota workforce. But 7.5 percent of chief executives, and 5 percent of vice presidents and other executive staff are African-American.

People with disabilities make up 11 percent of Minnesota's workforce, but comprised 1 percent -- or less -- of foundation staff. But those figures may be high, said King, because they don't count "invisible" disabilities.

King said the report is meant to spur discussion and action on how Minnesota foundations can better reflect the communities they serve. Go to www.mcf.org.