• Doug Ihrke, Helen Bader Institute (HBI) for Nonprofit Management, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)
• Mike Ford, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and HBI Faculty Affiliate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

In this presentation, we build on the existing literatures on small group dynamics and public and nonprofit organizational performance by exploring the link between small group dynamics, governance, and performance on Minnesota nonprofit charter school boards. The goal is to give nonprofit charter school boards a path to improve outcomes through improved governance. Originally collected survey data from nonprofit charter school board members is linked with hard measures of performance from the Minnesota Department of Education, and used in a path analysis predicting charter school math and reading proficiency levels. We find that boards exhibiting low-levels of negative group conflict are more active in key governance areas, and that active governance is linked to increased student outcomes. We conclude that nonprofit charter school boards can increase their organizational performance by taking steps to reduce board conflict.

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William Cleveland, Adjunct Faculty, Helen Bader Institute (HBI) for Nonprofit Management, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)

The nonprofit sector in Wisconsin, reflective of the nation, has changed in the last quarter century. However, how has the sector evolved over 25 years? This study will characterize changes in the Wisconsin nonprofit landscape to examine the number of nonprofits broken down by public charities, private foundations, and other nonprofits. The changes will examine the income, revenue, and assets of these nonprofits to examine growth patterns of individual charities. As with the larger US economy, have the richer nonprofits gotten larger, or have smaller nonprofits achieved the American Dream of growth? Analyses include difference between nonprofits headquartered in urban and rural areas. Parallel analysis will examine per capita growth at the county level. Industry-related growth will examine if different services have seen disproportionate growth within the state over the last generation.