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More Than Just Money

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More Than Just Money

Practical and Provocative Steps to Nonprofit Success

LMM Press,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Text available

What's inside?

Nonprofits can enjoy the best of both worlds by being businesslike while they pursue their mission.

Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Economist and consultant Allen J. Proctor offers clear strategies for operating a modern nonprofit organization. He invites nonprofits to take a deeper, more “provocative” look at their fundamental structures and systems, and he provides specific, concrete methods for improving them. He defines crucial factors – from board development to funding – that define a nonprofit’s viability, and discusses them in short, concise chapters that challenge status quo thinking about how nonprofits should behave. His anecdotal examples and bulleted action steps explain how to implement each concept. The compact, accessible writing style and valuable checklists make this book a good solid reference or a handy quick review. Though Proctor’s subtopics sometimes seem disconnected and some issues tend to overlap across chapters, getAbstract recommends this professional, managerial analysis of how to keep your nonprofit fiscally sound while achieving its altruistic goals.

Summary

“The Role of the Board”

Managers of successful nonprofit organizations create and nurture effective boards of directors. They take advantage of members’ individual and group talents, availability and levels of involvement and commitment. As a nonprofit manager, you can employ a set of “best practices” to improve your board’s overall effectiveness – including establishing a clear focus, paying more attention to the future than the past and harmonizing fundraising with your overall mission. Schedule regular board meetings, and use the agenda to direct members’ discussions to strategic – not operational – concerns.

Composing a board of directors is an art. Recruit people who are passionate, committed and available. Set clear, specific expectations as you define their roles and responsibilities, tap into their individual expertise, and coordinate their talents and passions so they establish, execute and sustain an overall strategic plan. Organize meetings to promote involvement and attendance. Your board’s culture must support open inquiry, diverse opinion and “constructive disagreement.”

Your board should use its budgeting process to create a fiscal plan, as well...

About the Author

Economist Allen J. Proctor heads a consulting firm and writes about nonprofit management for Columbus Business First.

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