Patricia Bradshaw provides a concise and comprehensive overview of governance in the nonprofit sector, discussing the responsibilities of boards and how these are fulfilled across the nonprofit sector. Drawing on interpretive, structural and political perspectives on nonprofit governance, she examines contingency factors, including how the external environment impacts the choice of board structures and processes.

Bradshaw explores the significance of a nonprofit’s size, purpose and ideology, presenting a range of governance configurations with a framework to assist in determining which model is most suited to a particular board. Chapters encourage critical thinking and propose collaborative approaches to understanding and participating in governance. They challenge the one-best-model approach and demonstrate a range of alternative approaches to governance, outlining board processes from a political viewpoint. Blending theory with practical approaches, Bradshaw engages with emerging principles within the field, including decolonization, social justice and equity, and sheds light on alternative models and sources of power.

Concise Introduction to Nonprofit Governance is a vital resource for students in social studies, business, public policy, and non-profit governance. Its valuable insights will also greatly benefit non-profit boards and consultants in nonprofit governance.