Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Accounting
Advisor/Mentor
Leflar, Charles
Abstract
Effective governance is critical for the success of non-profit organizations, with foundation boards playing a central role in ensuring accountability, strategic direction, and resource allocation for the organization. This thesis investigates best practices for non-profit foundation boards, using the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation Board as a case study to evaluate the efficiency of its governance practices. The research aims to identify whether the foundation board operates efficiently and adheres to established best practices for non-profit governance boards.
To address this, a two-phase methodology was employed. The first phase involved an extensive review of scholarly journals, industry guidelines, and other resources to define criteria for best practices in non-profit board governance. In the second phase, interviews were conducted with board members and library executives with questions informed by the findings from the first phase designed to assess the efficiency of a non-profit board. The research supports the hypothesis that the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation Board operates efficiently and incorporates several recognized best practices, including strategic alignment with the organization’s mission and active engagement of board members. These results can contribute to the broader understanding of non-profit governance by highlighting how established best practices can be implemented and tailored within a specific organizational context to improve overall board effectiveness.
By combining theoretical research with practical application, this study offers valuable insights for non-profit boards seeking to improve their governance practices and better fulfill their organizational missions.
Keywords
Nonprofit; governance board; nonprofit governance; library; case study; nonprofit strategy
Citation
Beller, E. S. (2026). Non-Profit Foundation Boards: An Investigation into Best Practices using Fayetteville Public Library Foundation Board as a Test Case. Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/acctuht/66
