Board Diversity in the Digital Divide

Be a part of the Research! Share your board communication

stories via email:NPBoardstories@gmail.com

Contact Information:Presented by: Jenny Heyden

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Nonprofit Management and Leadershipjenny.heyden@gmail.com

414-534-6287

1Jenny Heyden, UWM, 11/20/2009

Question: Does Increased Technology improve Board Communication?

Methodology• Exploratory Pilot Study for stories and insights

to lead to further research.• Surveyed 114 board members through Survey

Monkey of 35 different organizations in the Milwaukee, Chicago, DC and Boston Areas.

• Varied in size, age of organization, NTEE classification.

2Jenny Heyden, UWM, 11/20/2009

Metric: Length of ServiceLength of Service 0-6 Months 6mos-1yr 1-2years 2-5 years >5 years Notes:

% Yes/No Serve Other Boards?

1.6.7% Yes 83.3% No

25% Yes75% No

50% Yes50% No

29.2% Yes70.8% No

65.3% Yes34.7% No

>5 yrs likely yes other board

% Email at Home Frequent (>1xweek)

80.0% 83.3% 94.7% 91.7% 82.5% >5 yrs more frequent

What is your Age?

25% 30-3525% 36-4025% 41-45

20% 26-3010% 30-3520% 36-4030% 41-4510% 46-5010% 56-60

6.3% 21-2512.5% 26-3012.5% 30-3525% 36-406.3% 41-456.3% 51-5518.8% 56-606.3% 61-656.3% 66-70

4.3% 26-308.7% 30-354.3% 36-4017.4% 41-4517.4% 46-508.7% 51-558.7% 56-6013% 61-6517.3% 66-75

2.4% 30-359.8% 36-404.9% 41-4514.6% 46-5014.6% 51-5512.2% 56-6014.6% 61-6526.8% 66->75

0-6 Board members 30-45, 6mos – 1yr 26-601-2 yrs 21-702-5 yrs 26-75>5 yrs 30 - >75

I am more technologically adept.

50% Yes 50% Yes 52.9% Yes 52.1% Yes 30% Yes27.5% No

Decreasing confidence in yrs of service

Frequency of Board Meetings

Quarterly 80%

Monthly63.6%

Monthly81.3%

Quarterly 25%,Monthly 66.7%

Quarterly 36.6%Monthly 58.5%

Total: 33% Quarterly 62.9% MonthlyHo

How do you Prefer Receiving Meeting Materials?

Via Email 100%

Email 94.4%Website Download 5.6%

Email 91.6%Mail/Delivery 4.2%

Email 76.2%Mail 14.3%Web 2.4%Phone 2.4%

>5 yrs sensitive to legality of email-open meeting issue

Facebook Message 50.0% 54.5% 56.3% 21.1% 17.1% Sample of highter tech com.

Skype: User/Know/Interested: For Retention?

25% Use25% Know25% Like

9.1%9.1%9.1%

0%26.7%33%

5.6%27.8%22.2%

0%6.1%21.2%

Higher than perhaps suspected

Recruited Member should be Available Meeting Dates?

50% Yes50% No

70% Yes20% No

81.3% Yes6.3% No

72.7% Yes9% No

34.2% Yes36.6% No

>5 most flex: poss. use of tech – skype/conf. call for retention 3

Length of Service: Increase in Other Board Service and Role on Board

Jenny Heyden, UWM, 11/20/2009 4

Meta-Communication Matrix for Board Identification

Jenny Heyden, UWM, 11/20/2009 5

Board Member ANo Email&Board Member BFacebook Message Only

Board Member CDiscusses Options, Responsive to any communication

Board Member DDoes not disclose; Responsive to varied communication

Board Member EDoes not disclose; Does not respond to communication; can go AWOL from board