The research was guided by the following research questions, formulated with the PAALF:
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What are the organizational characteristics of African American-led organizations such as size, budget, age, sector, funding sources, services provided, populations served, etc.?
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What are the characteristics of the Boards of Directors and their members, such as number of members, demographic characteristics of members, tenure and experience of members, etc.?
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How do the organizations use data and technology?
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What are the characteristics of the Executive Directors and senior staff, such as race, gender, age, tenure, and experience?
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Are the organizations involved in policy work or advocacy? Do they have the capacity to work in these areas?
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Do the organizations and their staff participate in trainings and technical assistance?
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Have the organizations participated in strategic planning, including succession planning and financial sustainability?
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Are the organizations involved in partnerships or collaborations with other organizations?
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How do African American-led nonprofit organizations compare to other (non-African American-led) organizations on the above measures?
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What are local funders’ perspectives on African American-led nonprofit organizations in Philadelphia and how they are positioned in the nonprofit sector?