Understanding Nonprofit Work


Book Description

Offers a valuable resource for scholars, teachers, students, and nonprofit practitioners interested in understanding nonprofit work from a communication perspective This sophisticated yet accessible book explores the dynamics of organizational communication in the context of nonprofit work. It delves deeply into the subjects of communication and social construction and develops several key subject areas and issues including leadership, management, and governance; the marketization of nonprofit work; collaboration and organizational partnerships; meaningful labor; and international nonprofit work. Understanding Nonprofit Work: A Communication Perspective is the first resource to bring together the considerable and voluminous amount of communication scholarship and nonprofit research available in academia. Moving beyond the simplistic notion of communication as merely the transmission of information, it instead develops a more insightful approach to nonprofit work based on the concept of communication as social construction, explaining the implications and applications of this distinct communication perspective in ways that will benefit both communication scholars and nonprofit practitioners. Additionally, this book: Brings together a wealth of information in communication theory and nonprofit organizations in a thoughtful, approachable style Demonstrates the application and utility of a communication perspective across several key aspects of nonprofit work Written by two well-known scholars in the field with considerable experience in nonprofit work—teaching, research, volunteering, consulting, and board membership Understanding Nonprofit Work is an ideal book for advanced undergraduate and graduate level students in courses on nonprofit work, or broader classes on organizational communication and public administration that have units on the nonprofit sector. This book is also perfect for nonprofit professionals looking to develop a more sophisticated and insightful approach to their work.




UNDERSTANDING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO


Book Description

Understanding Nonprofit Organizations examines the most important issues that face today's leaders and managers of nonprofit organizations through the writing of scholars, consultants, and practicing executives. It focuses on governing, leading, and managing nonprofit organizations and how such organizations differ from both the public and private sectors. Each part opens with a framing essay that identifies the central themes and issues and summarizes the significance of the contribution that each piece makes to the development of knowledge in the field. Completely revised and updated, the third edition includes new articles on legal frameworks, philanthropy, managing volunteers and accountability, as well as an original essay on capacity building. In addition, the third edition features new, thought-provoking case studies by C. Kenneth Meyer--making it an even more student-friendly text for graduate and upper-division undergraduate nonprofit organizations and management survey courses.




Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership


Book Description

Nonprofit leadership is messy Nonprofits leaders are optimistic by nature. They believe with time, energy, smarts, strategy and sheer will, they can change the world. But as staff or board leader, you know nonprofits present unique challenges. Too many cooks, not enough money, an abundance of passion. It’s enough to make you feel overwhelmed and alone. The people you help need you to be successful. But there are so many obstacles: a micromanaging board that doesn’t understand its true role; insufficient fundraising and donors who make unreasonable demands; unclear and inconsistent messaging and marketing; a leader who’s a star in her sector but a difficult boss… And yet, many nonprofits do thrive. Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership will show you how to do just that. Funny, honest, intensely actionable, and based on her decades of experience, this is the book Joan Garry wishes she had when she led GLAAD out of a financial crisis in 1997. Joan will teach you how to: Build a powerhouse board Create an impressive and sustainable fundraising program Become seen as a ‘workplace of choice’ Be a compelling public face of your nonprofit This book will renew your passion for your mission and organization, and help you make a bigger difference in the world.




Understanding Nonprofit Organizations


Book Description

There are no easy solutions to the complexities faced by nonprofit leaders and managers. This textbook addresses the governance, leadership, and management functions of the thousands of organizations in the nonprofit sector that provide an enormous range of services. This thoroughly revised fourth edition of Understanding Nonprofit Organizations does not simply recount and summarize seminal literature; it presents 22 of the most important and informative articles, chapters, and essays written about the workings of nonprofit organizations, alongside 18 case studies that illustrate the complex governing, leading, and managing issues raised in the chapters. The introductions that open each of the sections explore important issues and concepts, provide context, and explain what students should be looking for as they read each of the chapters. Each section introduction has been extensively rewritten or updated to address recent movements and changes in the nonprofit field, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of nonprofit organizations’ functions and ability to raise funds, increasing social and political divides within countries and communities, the gains and problems that have arisen with dramatic expansion of social media, and the need for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our organizations and our society. Understanding Nonprofit Organizations provides a cohesive set of relevant readings for a course on nonprofit organizations and management, and instructors and students will appreciate the original case studies that parallel the major themes presented. The book is also designed for individuals who are hoping or planning to move into paid or voluntary leadership and management positions in nonprofit organizations—as well as for those already involved with nonprofits seeking to improve their skills and understanding of their chosen field.




Understanding Nonprofit Financial Statements


Book Description

"This book concentrates on one major and widely recognized method of measuring value: financial statements and their implications for outcomes. It is organized to maximize a nonprofit board member's understanding of the most important financial elements within his or her organization. At the outset, the book reviews the function of the board in its goal-setting role, which includes financial outcomes. This sets the stage for examining the differences between simple accounting and the board's function in analyzing accounting numbers to portray financial outcomes. Understanding the major elements of the financial statements is the heart of the book, and attention is given to the key ways in which those elements represent the real financial outcomes of the operations performed by the organization's senior management and staff over the relevant time period. The remainder of the book highlights similarities and differences of interim versus audited financial statements, some very specific ways to use available financial information to fulfill the board's fiduciary responsibilities, and, finally, how to utilize financial information to measure organizational performance. Included is a CD-ROM that contains sample financial documents and a Microsoft 'PowerPointʼ presentation on financial practices that can be used at board meetings to improve financial skills."--P. ix.







Joining a Nonprofit Board


Book Description

Praise for Joining a Nonprofit Board ""As an individual who has served on various nonprofit boards, and as the president and CEO of a large nonprofit organization, I can attest to how valuable this book is. Marc Epstein and Warren McFarlan offer insight into the expectations of nonprofit board members, which is extraordinarily beneficial to individuals considering their first nonprofit board and to seasoned professionals already serving on boards." —Gail McGovern, President and CEO, American Red Cross Excerpted from Foreword" "This book is a roadmap for the business person who wants to serve on a nonprofit board, and unwittingly assumes that the approaches that worked so well in the for-profit world can be seamlessly extrapolated to the nonprofit board room." —Roseanna H. Means, M.D., founder and president, Women of Means "A must-read for all new and existing nonprofit board members. It is full of practical advice that will help improve the effectiveness of nonprofit board members and the organizations they serve." —Roger Servison, president emeritus, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and vice chairman, Boston Symphony Orchestra "What a powerful tool now available for anyone involved with governance of America's nonprofit enterprises. The analysis is cogent and concise, amply supported by real-life examples." —George B. Beitzel, chairman emeritus, Amherst College, and chairman emeritus, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation "Joining a Nonprofit Board offers practical advice in complementing your business experience with the nuances of nonprofit governance, performance, and management in order to fully achieve the societal mission." —Jeffrey C. Thomson, president and CEO, Institute of Management Accountants "This book will guide you through the differences between for-profit and nonprofit organizations (and boards). It will help you navigate through all the nuances in which nonprofit organizations actually operate on a day-to-day basis."—Elaine Ullian, former president, Boston Medical Center "Joining a Nonprofit Board is a must-read. This book should be required reading and distributed at the opening board meeting." —Agnes C. Underwood, former head, Garrison Forest School and National Cathedral School; vice president/managing associate, Carney, Sandoe and Associates "A Board needs a unifying and visionary objective—'It must be World Class.' This book successfully shows how to create a World Class Board." —W. Richard Bingham, former chairman, California Academy of Sciences




Understanding Nonprofit Law and Finance


Book Description

A quick-hitting professional resource of 48 core legal and financial principles for anyone sitting on a nonprofit board. The 24 legal questions and 24 financial questions provide nonprofit leaders with a framework for understanding the key issues that are likely to affect their current or future roles in the nonprofit sector.




Managing Nonprofit Organizations


Book Description

MANAGING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS This essential resource offers an overall understanding of nonprofits based on both the academic literature and practitioner experience. It shows how to lead, manage, govern, and structure effective and ethical nonprofit organizations. Managing Nonprofit Organizations reveals what it takes to be entrepreneurial and collaborative, formulate successful strategies, assess performance, manage change, acquire resources, be a responsible financial steward, and design and implement solid marketing and communication plans. "Managing Nonprofit Organizations is the only introductory text on this subject that manages to do three critical things equally well: It's comprehensive, covering all the key topics leaders of NPOs need to know about; it's practical, providing lots of examples, case incidents, and experiential exercises that connect the content to the real world; and, best of all (and most unique compared to others), it's research-based, drawing on the latest and best empirical studies that look into what works and doesn't work in the world of nonprofit management." —Vic Murray, professor, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria "This book is a rarity—a text that can be used both as the focus for academic study and as a source of stimulating ideas for those practitioners who want to explore theories about management and how they can be applied so they can do a better job. Tschirhart and Bielefeld have explained all aspects of nonprofit management and leadership in a way that will stimulate as well as inform." —Richard Brewster, executive director, National Center on Nonprofit Enterprise, Virginia Tech University "Managing Nonprofit Organizations presents a comprehensive treatment of this important topic. The book satisfies the competencies and curriculum guidelines developed by NASPAA and by NACC and would be ideal for instruction. The book maintains its commitment to informing management and leadership throughout the nonprofit sector." —Jeffrey L. Brudney, Albert A. Levin Chair of Urban Studies and Public Service, Cleveland State University "This is an important book, written by two of the leading scholars in the nonprofit studies field. Nonprofit managers, board members, funders, educators, and others will find Managing Nonprofit Organizations extremely valuable." —Michael O' Neill, professor of nonprofit management, University of San Francisco "Here's the book that my students have been asking for—just the right mix of theory presentation, research findings, and practical suggestions to serve the thoughtful nonprofit management practitioner. It will inform, instruct, and ultimately, inspire." —Rikki Abzug, professor of management, Anisfield School of Business, Ramapo College




On Being Nonprofit


Book Description

Focusing on nonprofits' growing dependence on public funding, their tendency toward political polarization, their often idiosyncratic missions, and their increasing commercialism, Peter Frumkin argues that the long-term challenges facing nonprofit organizations will be solved only when they achieve greater balance among their four central functions. Probing foundational thinking as well as emergent ideas, the book is an essential guide for nonprofit novices and experts alike who want to understand the issues propelling public debate about the future of their sector.