Preface to the Third Edition xiii

About the Author xv

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

A look at three core philosophies, who the book is written for, how the book is designed, and how to get the most from reading it.

Chapter 2 Where We Were, Where We Are, Where We Are Going 13

A brief history of the nonprofit world, an examination of the relationship between nonprofits and their funders, and an updated prediction of the nonprofit world for the next ten years.

Chapter 3 What Works: The Characteristics of a Successful Nonprofit 31

 An updated list of the ten things that a nonprofit needs to continue to do its mission well in the twenty-first century.

Chapter 4 The Mission is the Reason 39

How to get the most benefit from the reason that nonprofits exist. For many, the mission is an underutilized resource. A discussion on updating and then using a motivational mission statement.

Chapter 5 Being Ethical, Accountable, and Transparent 55

Effective nonprofits are highly ethical, accountable to their communities, and transparent both inside and outside the organization. The best ways to do this on the highest moral plane possible is covered.

Chapter 6 A Businesslike Board of Directors 73

What an effective board is, and what the board’s and the staff’s respective roles are. Reducing board liability and recruiting and retaining a board will be covered as well.

Chapter 7 Leading Your People 97

A new approach to nonprofit leadership that succeeds in today’s high-speed, information-driven environment, also including better communications, evaluations, and rewards.

Chapter 8 Embracing Technology for Mission 123

How to use technology to better serve, manage, inform, market, empower, and compete in today’s all-tech, all-the-time environment.

Chapter 9 Creating a Social Entrepreneur 143

How to develop a culture that takes reasonable risks on behalf of the people it serves. The criteria of a social entrepreneur. How to focus on your core competencies and remain flexible.

Chapter 10 Developing a Bias for Marketing 171

The best way to bring your entire team into the marketing process, to discover who your markets really are, and how to meet their needs and wants. The characteristics of a market-driven and mission-based organization. Why asking is so important.

Chapter 11 Financial Empowerment 195

The eight key characteristics of a financially empowered nonprofit, better internal reporting, and how a nonprofit can keep what it earns.

Chapter 12 A Vision for the Future 233

How to plan where you are going, and how to get the most from the planning process as well as from the plan itself. Sample plan outlines.

Chapter 13 The Controls That Set You Free 255

The way to get the most from nine different kinds of policies, including a tested method for their development and enforcement.

Chapter 14 A National Agenda: Empowering Our Nonprofits 275

A new way of looking at nonprofits for everyone to consider: funders, donors, volunteers, staff, board, the public, and the press. What we all need to do together to improve, free, embolden, and empower the nonprofits that are so essential to our community.

Chapter 15 Final Words 289

Index 293