Understanding the Dynamics of Diversity Within Nonprofit Boards

As nonprofit organization boards increasingly reflect the rich human diversity of the communities they serve, understanding and nurturing the many voices within boards is crucial. This paper describes a number of frameworks that seem promising for exploring board dynamics, including the use of language to further interests, social exchanges, the political context of boards as elements of a pyramid of civic participation, the socialization and acculturation of board members and the composition and representativeness of boards.