| Nonprofit organizations provide a broad range of critical services to our nation's communities. Governing these organizations are boards of directors, individuals who volunteer their time on behalf of nonprofit organizations. The boards ensure that the organization they serve remains true to its mission, functions within the confines of state and federal laws, and operates in a financially responsible manner. Given the power entrusted to boards, it is prudent to understand factors that may influence board functioning. Thus, this study assessed one factor expert-practitioners often identify as associated with effective boards—board member commitment. More specifically, this research examined the relationships between board member commitment and two outcome variables particularly relevant to board members: overall board performance and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (GCBs).; The population of interest in this study was volunteer board members of midsized, social service nonprofit organizations. In addition, selection of nonprofit organizations was limited to those in Orange County, California.; Assessments of board members' commitment were conducted through survey responses and follow-up interviews. Two hundred sixty-seven board members participated in the survey portion of the study. This represents a total response rate of 50.1%. Executive Directors also completed surveys. Twenty-eight of the 38 Executive Directors returned surveys, representing a response rate of 73.6%. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 10 randomly selected board members.; Commitment was assessed using Meyer and Allen's (1991) Three-Component Model of Commitment. The three components (Affective, Normative and Continuance Commitment) represent individuals' motivations for continuing on in their present position. Board effectiveness was assessed using Chait, Holland & Taylor's (1993) Board Self-Assessment Questionnaire. A scale to assess Organizational Citizenship Behaviors was developed for this study. Likewise, the Executive Director Questionnaire was developed for this study.; The strongest findings were between Affective Commitment and overall board performance and OCBs. The expected relationships between Normative Commitment and overall board performance and OCBs were not found, nor were the expected relationships between Continuance Commitment and the variables of interest found. |
