The Governance of International Nongovernmental Organizations: How Funding and Volunteer Involvement Affect Board Nomination Modes and Stakeholder Representation in International Nongovernmental Organizations

The governance of civil society organizations (CSOs) is a crucial determinant of organizational legitimacy, accountability,
and performance. International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) are a subtype of CSOs and have received a lot of attention
as actors in global governance. Research suggests that INGOs can follow a membership model, where the board is elected by
the membership, or a board-managed model, where the board is appointed to represent major stakeholders. Following resource
dependency theory, we argue that the choice between these two models depends on the INGOs different sources of funding and
the degree of volunteer involvement: As donors and volunteers provide important resources, they are in turn granted the right
to nominate board members or to sit on the board. In our quantitative study we show that individual members, regional member
organizations, and governmental donors hold a stronger position in the governance of INGOs than philanthropists, foundations
and volunteers. Our results inform research on CSO governance by highlighting the relevance of board nomination modes and
by showing how CSOs can incorporate stakeholders into their governance mechanisms.