Scholars of political disaffection have recently argued that ethnically bridging and bonding non-profit associations may have diverging effects on members’ likelihood of political engagement. However, both theoretical and empirical assessments of such effects remain inconclusive by predicting different scenarios. In this article, I contribute to this literature by relying on a novel design that does not focus on individuals (as in previous research), but rather samples ethnically homogeneous (Turkish) and heterogeneous organizations and their participants. This sampling strategy also allows controlling for the effects of previously ignored organizational characteristics that might enhance political engagement. A multilevel analysis suggests that existing studies tend to overestimate the importance of a mixed ethnic organizational context. Rather, both types of voluntary organizations attract politically engaged individuals (self-selection). Moreover, other organizational characteristics –providing political information or receiving local government grants – have a stronger effect on members’ political engagement than the organization’s ethnic composition.
