Community-Based Research

​Interested in partnering with University scholars on community-based research projects?  Hoping to better understand current research and best practices? Contact the Institute so we can link you with faculty and research that may be able to provide your organization with cutting edge solutions.

Diversity on Nonprofit Boards

In 2019, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region commissioned the Institute of Nonprofit Leadership and Community Development to assess nonprofit board diversity and inclusion throughout the region. The goal of the assessment was to understand current board demographics, identify organizational policies and procedures related to diversity, and evaluate attitudes around diversity.

The final report identifies the challenges nonprofits face when recruiting a diverse pool of candidates and recognizes the obstacles members of diverse communities encounter in both recruitment to and service on boards. Findings highlight three key recommendations:

• Qualify individuals from underrepresented identities. Provide individuals who are passionate and willing to serve with educational training and resources to support their success.
• Match and connect with diverse communities. Connect community members’ skills sets with board opportunities at nonprofits serving our community. 
• Create a welcoming space on boards. Identify steps nonprofits can take to ensure they are inclusive, welcoming, and respectful of all identities and expertise. 

The assessment was conducted by graduate interns Casey O'Neill, MPA candidate, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and Dhanisha Nandigama, MA candidate, I/O Psychology, in conjunction with the Institute and included surveys, focus groups, and interviews with nonprofit board leaders and underrepresented members of the community. The assessment was underwritten by the Community Foundation and the Charles L. Touhey Foundation.

Please click here to download the full report.