Can disputes within nonprofit boards and organizations be mediated?

Yes, and nonprofits are a common setting for organizational mediation. Nonprofit disputes frequently involve board governance — disagreements over mission and strategy, the executive director’s role and performance, fiduciary responsibilities, or conflicts among board members or between the board and staff or volunteers. Because nonprofits depend heavily on relationships, reputation, and volunteer goodwill, litigation is especially costly to them in ways that go beyond legal fees. Mediation lets the parties resolve the governance conflict confidentially and preserve the organization’s ability to function, which is usually in everyone’s interest, including the community the nonprofit serves.