Many people of color in the philanthropic sector perceive limited vacancies due to low rates of turnover, a lack of access to hiring and developmental networks, and racial stereotypes and/or unfamiliar foundation cultures as significant barriers to advancement, a study commissioned by the D5 Coalition and conducted by Forward Change Consulting finds. Based on interviews, the report, Philanthropic Paths: An Exploratory Study of the Career Pathways of Professionals of Color in Philanthropy (40 pages, PDF), found that professionals of color consider field-level factors such as the availability of mentors and affinity groups that provide opportunities for networking and leadership development, organizational factors such as an institutional commitment to diversity, and individual factors including expertise in issue areas and management practices to be critical to the career advancement for people of color. Interviewees also noted challenges to advancing diversity in philanthropic organizations, including making sure it is not just about numerical composition, securing board commitment and engagement, and, for senior leaders of color, striking a delicate balance between being an insider who is "at the table" and an "oppositional" proponent for greater diversity.