Making Diversity Work for Nonprofit Boards

William BrownAssociate Professor & Director

Nonprofit Management ProgramGeorge Bush School of Government & Public Service

Texas A&M University

Session Outline

• Nonprofit board roles• Recommendations to accomplish roles• Defining diversity• Benefits & Challenges• Why diversity might matter• Suggestions and strategies for making

an inclusive board

Tasks of Board Governance

Oversight/Monitor

• Oversee fiscal assets• Set mission and

purpose• Set organizational

policies• Evaluate the executive• Monitor performance• Monitor strategic

direction

Service/Resource

• Raise funds • Promote organization• Link to constituents• Advice and counsel• Recruit board

members• Create strategic

direction

Four Principles

• Seek Independence

• Utilize a Strategic Perspective

• Expand Social Networks

• Become Interpersonally Connected

What is a Diverse Board?

• Racial and demographic• Ideological• Professional experience

and background• Representation from

key stakeholders

Challenges of Diversity

• Increases potential for conflict• Communication can be more difficult• It takes time to negotiate and

incorporate diverse perspectives• Folks can feel marginalized or

exploited • More difficulty to form alliances• Performance challenges

Benefits of Diversity

• New understanding about why things are happening

• New ideas & solutions• It can foster creativity• Potentially access to new resources• Normative expectations

Does it make a performance difference?

• Probably only minimally• Social and political reality• Minimize the negative effects• Exploit positive attributes

Foster Positive Outcomes

• Non-routine difficult problems benefit most

from diverse perspectives• Use diverse perspectives that are relevant

to problems at hand• Group must be willing to

work through differences

Commitment to Process

• Explain and justify rationale • Discrimination & Fairness

• Access & Legitimacy

• Integration & Learning

• Consider a diversity taskforce or committee• Incorporate diverse and constituent

perspectives in multiple layers of decision-making

• Consider pathways to board leadership• How do individuals become involved in board governance?

Suggestions

• Use committees to engage participation• Strive for meaningful contributions• Allow time and accept fits and starts• Make a case for inclusion

• QUESTIONS & COMMENTS