A Case Study of an Effective Board of Directors of a Nonprofit Organization: Perceptions, Processes, Characteristics, and Diversity

This case study examines an effective board of directors of a nonprofit organization. The research identifies three qualitative characteristics of the Board, seeks to understand benefits and challenges of this Board\u27s diversity, the processes it follows and Board members perceptions of Board effectiveness. Twenty-seven active Board members are interviewed in depth, observed at Board and Committee meetings and surveyed as to their perceptions of Board effectiveness. The results are presented based on emerging data gathered over a six-month period of time. Thirty-seven different definitions of Board effectiveness have been identified by Board members in this study. Conclusions and implications are drawn from an analysis of the data and compared to current, larger research studies on board effectiveness. A new board. member typology is suggested for understanding involvement of the board members. Implications for current and future research are offered