Chief executive of GlobalGiving UK Eleanor Harrison has called for more investment in women CEOs, with a particular focus on leaders of smaller charities.

Harrison was speaking after Groundbreakers, the voluntary sector women leaders network, awarded her a professional development scholarship.

“I’m delighted to win this scholarship, dedicated to supporting strong female leadership in the charity sector,” she said in her acceptance speech.

“We need continued investment in women CEOs, particularly those in smaller charities with tight budgets. This can only help a sector with a majority female workforce and donor base.”
 
Groundbreakers offers its annual scholarship of up to £2,000 to assist the professional development of a woman leader in the voluntary sector. The organisation's statistics show that only between 43 per cent and 48 per cent of charity leaders are female, despite women making up 68 per cent of the overall workforce.

'Funding pressure affects professional development'

Harrison also spoke of how pressures on funds mean that professional development can fall to the bottom of the priority list for CEOs.

“You want to put your staff and volunteers first in terms of training and support to make sure your organisation is a happy and productive place. Leadership investment pays huge dividends but with a tight budget, prioritising yourself just seems wrong,” she said.

Eleanor joined GlobalGiving as its new CEO in October 2012, having previously been director of Action for Children in Conflict, in Kenya.

Groundbreakers was founded in 2002 by Dorothy Dalton, editor of Civil Society Media’s Governance magazine, and Geraldine Peacock, former chief executive of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and ex-chair of the Charity Commission.