1. William Brown Associate Professor & Director Nonprofit Management Program George Bush School of Government & Public Service Texas A&M University

2. Nonprofit board roles Recommendations to accomplish roles Defining diversity Benefits & Challenges Why diversity might matter Suggestions and strategies for making an inclusive board

3. 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

4. Seek Independence Utilize a Strategic Perspective Expand Social Networks Become Interpersonally Connected

5. Racial and demographic Ideological Professional experience and background Representation from key stakeholders

6. 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

7. New understanding about why things are happening New ideas & solutions It can foster creativity Potentially access to new resources Normative expectations

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

9. 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

10. 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?

11. Use committees to engage participation Strive for meaningful contributions Allow time and accept fits and starts Make a case for inclusion QUESTIONS & COMMENTS