The Evolution of Nonprofit Governance Research: Reflections, Insights, and Next Steps

Abstract

The literature on nonprofit governance and boards has grown substantially during the past 50 years as researchers from a variety of disciplines and fields have studied governance systems and processes to examine how they are organized, the practices they employ, and their relations with and impacts on nonprofits. This essay offers a domain-based narrative review of the research on the governance of nonprofit organizations and how it has developed over these 50 years. Building on literature reviews and a Delphi study, we summarize the progression of nonprofit governance research, employ a multi-dimensional framework to summarize and assess the state of the field, and offer recommendations for future study. We find the increasingly multinational and multicultural literature of the field has become more rich, nuanced, and increasingly inclusive of contingency, complexity, paradox, and the diverse theoretical perspectives that will enhance our understanding of nonprofit governance.

Leadership and Governance in Times of Crisis: A Balancing Act for Nonprofit Boards

“…Although boards of directors are typically tasked with strategically enacting an organization’s vision, this fundamental responsibility can be jeopardized when the decisions that need to be made are more urgent than governance processes allow. Renz (2020) has described this as a shift from risk management to risk leadership. While there is extensive literature related to the roles, duties, and characteristics of nonprofit boards (Brown & Guo, 2010; Gazley & Kissman, 2015; Raggo & Cagney, 2018), the attention explicitly devoted to the role of boards in times of crisis has been scanter.…”

Growing food, growing food systems: The role of non-profit farms

“…A non-profit is "a group organized for purposes other than generating profit and in which no part of the organization's income is distributed to its members, directors, or officers." Studies of non-profits recognize the fact that they are specifically governed according to a social mission (Renz et al, 2022). For example, Boris et al (2017, p. 3) describes the role of non-profits in civil society as "fostering community engagement, and promoting and conserving civic, cultural and religious values."…”

“…Non-profits are defined primarily through tax law in the US and in other countries, and those laws vary from country to country, making comparisons difficult. In addition, most studies of non-profits focus on the United States and Europe, in part due to the fact that international charities tend to register in those countries that are the primary source of donor funds (Renz et al, 2022). This particular study focuses on non-profit farms in the United States.…”

“…In the US, non-profits are taxexempt under federal tax law, in that their income -from enterprises or donations -is not taxed but is used to meet the mission of the organization. Non-profit organizations are generally run by a director who is responsible to a board (Renz et al, 2022).…”

To Give or Not to Give? The Influence of Board Giving on Nonprofit External Donations

“…Nonprofits perform well when governance functions are properly organized and maintained. Although nonprofit governance engages different stakeholders, most research focuses on board members (Renz & Andersson, 2013). The literature helping nonprofit scholars and practitioners understand the roles and responsibilities of board members has grown substantially.…”