Praise for the Second Edition of "The Executive Director's Guide to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader"

"This book is a gift for nonprofit leaders in all stages of their careers. With clarity and profound simplicity, it dissects the otherwise overwhelming role of the nonprofit executive director into understandable components that can then be made workable (and even fulfilling ). It is a highly readable and practical road map for success."
--Molly Polidoroff, executive director, Center for Excellence in Nonprofits

""The Executive Director's Guide to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader" not only clearly and concisely identifies the most critical issues of nonprofit leadership, but it also provides the resources and answers to those challenges. It will be required reading for both the most seasoned executive as well as the emerging leader."
--Bill Coy, director of leadership practice, La Piana Consulting

"I provide "The Executive Director's Guide to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader" to all new executive directors placed by my firm. They find it to be a great resource during their orientation to a new organization, new people, and new challenges, and it continues to be a support as issues come up in their work over the years. It's comprehensive and sensible, and the authors' great knowledge and respect for nonprofit executives shine through."
--Susan Egmont, consultant, Egmont Associates

Praise for the Previous Edition

"How would I describe this book? Practical. Helpful. Encouraging. Realistic. Thought-provoking. Accessible. Focused. Honest. Refreshing. It should be on every nonprofit leader's desk."
--"Barry Z. Posner," former dean and professor of leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, and coauthor, "The Leadership Challenge"

"In this new age of nonprofit management, executive directors are getting over their fantasies and past their fears, crafting change-the-world ideas and executing them every day. Mim and Margaret now provide real-life, real-time help in coaching and guiding executive directors from survival to success. I can't think of a more important contribution in today's drive to strengthen the sector."
--Roni Posner, former executive director, The Alliance for Nonprofit Management

This professional book examines the concept of engaged leadership. Specifically, it focuses on the need for leaders in personal and professional realms, for-profit and non-profit, to understand the importance of engagement in order to achieve enhanced satisfaction and motivation among stakeholders (including employees, shareholders, investors, supporters, customers, suppliers, the community, competitors, family, and partners), and hence, an augmented level of designed thinking, which leads to increased innovation and on-going leadership development. Divided into three sections-engaged leadership development at the personal level, implementation at the organizational level, and manifestation in practice-this book provides professionals, practitioners and policy makers as well as students with the tools and skills to lead actively and conscientiously and help them understand the importance of creativity and compassion for development. Engaged leadership operates on the fundamental principle that leaders have to first and foremost perceive themselves as leaders, and then engage in design thinking, as they will need to develop strategies to reach, encourage, and positively appeal to these stakeholder groups. Leadership is neither limited to those holding formal managerial position, nor to any particular setting. Leaders can be found everywhere, in all layers of society. Leadership is only possible, however, if one dares to perceive and define oneself as a leader. And only when leadership is adopted as a reality within one's personal perception, can engaged leadership be applied. Featuring contributions from academics, scholars, and professionals from around the world, each providing cases, interactive questions and reflective notes, this book will be of interest to professionals, practitioners, policy makers, students and scholars interested in creative leadership, management, organizational behavior, and governance.

Tackling Wicked Problems in Complex Ecologies is a call to action, focusing on the role that evaluators can play in addressing social and economic problems. Evaluation extends beyond theories and methods, encompassing a range of proven approaches for addressing ecological complexities that drive inequities around the globe. Bringing together leading thinkers and problem-solvers, this collection traverses the range of contexts at the frontiers of the field-from inadequate food supply and housing to unemployment and poverty. Editors Rodney Hopson and Fiona Cram demonstrate the effects of an engaged approach to evaluation, in which three considerations take center stage: its relevance, the relationships it engenders, and the responsibilities it requires. This is a handbook for tackling the social and economic problems of the twenty-first century which, though wicked, are amenable to the tools of the trade.

Nonprofit Hero is written by Valerie Jones, who has raised more than $175 million for nonprofits and coached thousands of people to authentically and successfully ask for the causes they care about. She's addressed more than 50 audiences from Baltimore to Beijing and is one of fewer than 10,000 Certified Fund-Raising Executives (CFREs) worldwide. In addition to running her boutique consulting firm, Valerie M. Jones Associates (VMJA), she's volunteered extensively, serving nonprofits as president, chair, board member, and committee member. Her method works. Trained boards report increased comfort and willingness to ask. Many indicate they are prepared to ask for bigger gifts, can identify more prospective donors, and intend to contact these prospects sooner. Her book, Nonprofit Hero, contains stories, tools, and exercises not included in trainings. Readers will learn how to: *Honor their fears. Surprisingly, these contain their personal prescription for success. *Channel their passion by tapping the energy of why they want what they want. *Discover their asking personality, including how they should and shouldn't ask. *Get started with tips on thirty simple things to do right now for free to help raise money. *Follow five easy steps, starting with thanking, not asking, and with givers, not prospects. *Cast themselves as stars, finding the step they'll most enjoy and at which they'll excel. *Attract support by listening, understanding motivations, and helping fulfill donors' desires. *Elevate their speech so that they can make their case sincerely and with compelling confidence. *Get in the right frame of mind to show up ready for "yes," not braced for "no." This book also helps readers form an in-depth description of their asking personality. It illustrates how they can best thank, steward, research, cultivate, and ask; which of the five steps they favor; how to address their fears; play to their strengths; overcome their weaknesses; and how to get what they need to excel. There are 16 different and distinct profiles, one suited to each reader. Finally, this book includes a toolkit of practical samples and templates, such as sample giving dos and don'ts, asking scripts, and fundraising plans.

Now in a thoroughly revised and refreshed fourth edition, Research Methods in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management is beloved by students and professors alike for its exceptional clarity and accessibility and plentiful illustrations. This new edition integrates quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, as well as specific up-to-date instruction in the use of statistical software programs such as Excel and SPSS. Changes to this edition include: A new section, featuring two new chapters, to explore mixed-methods approaches to research, including fundamentals, research design, data collection, and analyzing and interpreting findings A new, dedicated chapter on Big Data research Updated exhibits and examples throughout the book A new companion website to accompany the book containing PowerPoint slides for each chapter New exhibits, tables, figures, and exercises, as well as key terms and discussion questions at the end of each chapter Research Methods in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management, 4e is an ideal textbook for use in all research methods courses in undergraduate and graduate public administration, public affairs, and nonprofit management courses.

How to access the power and profitability of pro bono resources

Savvy nonprofits use strategic management, marketing, technology, leadership to be competitive. With strapped budgets, many nonprofits cannot afford to pay for these resources.? However, businesses are an often overlooked as an effective source of skilled professionals who can supply the needed skills. This book shares the acclaimed Taproot Foundation's pro bono best practices and shows nonprofit managers to apply them to their own unique challenges in a low-to-no-cost way.? The author offers keys to identifying opportunities for using pro bono sources, recruiting pro bono resources, and managing pro bono projects effectively.
Reveals how a nonprofit can partner with a global corporations to further their mission in an effective and low-cost manner
Aaron Hurst is the president and founder of the Taproot Foundation who pioneered a new field in community investment and continually breaks new ground through its signature, catalytic programs designed for the emerging global pro bono marketplace
Gives nonprofit managers and staff the keys to identifying opportunities for using pro bono resources

Taproot's Aaron Hurst offers a hands-on guide to managing and engaging pro bono resources directed at nonprofit organizations.

The highly acclaimed Financial and Strategic Management for Nonprofit Organizations provides an encyclopedic account of all the key financial, legal, and managerial issues facing nonprofit executives. This is today's definitive single-source text and reference for managing any nonprofit organization. Designed for both professional and graduate student readers, this work thoroughly addresses all key aspects of building managerial skill and promoting imagination and innovation in organizations across the nonprofit spectrum. Herrington J. Bryce presents every technique and concept in the context of today's public policies, leading practices, laws, norms, and expectations. Herrington J. Bryce was a senior economist at the Urban Institute, a Brookings Economic Policy Fellow, a Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard and a visiting professor in regional economics and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He taught micro economic theory and public finance at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was director of the program in legal and budget studies at the University College at the University of Maryland. He currently teaches courses at the College of William & Mary in nonprofits but mostly in corporate financial strategy and cost management-heavily reflected in this text. He has published extensively and has served on many state, local and federal government advisory committees. He has a PhD in economics from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, and a CLU and ChFC from the American College.

Whether you're a not-for-profit (NFP) professional or work with NFP clients, you can set yourself apart with the AICPA Not-for-Profit Certificate I (40 CPE Credits and 40 CAE Credits). As of August 1, 2018, Not-for-Profit Certificate Program content has been updated to reflect implementation of FASB Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) effective for most not-for-profit entities for their next financial reporting period, including those related to financial statement presentation (ASU 2016-14) and revenue recognition (ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2018-08). The Not-for-Profit Certificate Program I, Winner of Accounting Today's Best New Products 2016, will help you build a strong foundation for NFP skills across these key tracks: Introduction to Not-for-Profit Entities Accounting & Financial Reporting Tax Compliance Governance & Assurance Essential information for anyone with a non-profit role You'll get a comprehensive overview of a non-profit's unique financial needs and is perfect for: CPA firms looking for foundational training for or NFP clients Nonprofits seeking to deepen staff knowledge Those seeking a certificate as proof of proficiency with NFP clients Professionals who want to expand skill sets and build their resume Learn anytime, anywhere This award-winning, self-paced e-learning course is available on-demand to suit your schedule--and all learning styles and levels, through: Audio and video Interactive skills practice and gamification Case studies and real-world scenarios Hands-on exercises Earn credentials--and spotlight your accomplishment With this Certificate program, you'll get both CPE and CAE credits. You'll also earn a digital badge, that lets you show your achievement anywhere on the web -- a personal blog, a social network like LinkedIn, biographical page on your company's website or online resume. Your Certificate and digital badge information will be sent to you once you've completed the program. Courses included in this program: Accounting and Financial Reporting Track Not-for-Profit Entity Overview GAAP for NFPs Financial Statement Presentation Net Assets Exchange and Agency Transactions Revenue from Contributions Assets Programmatic Investments Fair Value Issues Specific to NFPs Expenses Investments Split Interest Agreements and Endowments Tax Compliance Track Liabilities Tax Exempt Status Tax Compliance Track Unrelated Business Income Tax Introduction to Form 990 Private Foundations Federal and State Filing Requirements Not-for-Profit Governance and Assurance Track Best Practices in Board Governance Risk Assessment and Internal Controls Fraud Overview and Prevention Planning the Audit Engagement Financial Oversight, Budget and Strategy Auditing Considerations Credit Info CPE CREDITS: Online: 40.0 (CPE credit info) CAE CREDITS: Online: 40.0 (CPE credit info) NASBA FIELD OF STUDY: Accounting, Auditing, Business Management & Organization, Taxes LEVEL: Basic PREREQUISITES: Knowledge of the not-for-profit industry ADVANCE PREPARATION: None YELLOW BOOK HOURS: Online - 31 DELIVERY METHOD: QAS Self-Study COURSE ACRONYM: NFP-CERT Online Access Instructions A personal pin code is enclosed in the physical packaging that may be activated online upon receipt. Once activated, you will gain immediate online access to the product. Frequently Asked Questions Do I have to be a CPA to get the certificate? You do not have to be a CPA to obtain the certificate. The certificate is designed to benefit CPAs and non-CPA alike, including anyone who works for, or with, a nonprofit. Those who obtain the certificate will receive the recommended CPE / CAE credits. What level of knowledge should I possess prior to starting the NFP Certificate program? While the program is designed to provide a foundational level of learning, individuals will benefit from having a basic understanding and awareness of financial reporting, auditing, governance and tax terminology and practices. How is the course material presented? Designed to be highly interactive, this program offers multiple opportunities for learning, including case study analysis and several gaming scenarios. Participants will be offered the opportunity to apply their new NFP knowledge in a simulated real-world environment. Tests are presented after each course to allow you to apply what you just learned. There are no additional tests at the end of tracks or when you've completed the certificate. How long will it take me to complete? This varies from individual to individual and is completely dependent upon the time the participant allocates to completing the coursework. A commitment of approximately 40 hours will be required for most individuals to successfully complete the program. What period of time do I have to complete the program? You have twenty-four (24) months from the date of purchase to complete all the courses. You are encouraged to complete the program within a twelve (12) month period or less. Can I complete the program in any order? Yes, there are no limitations on the order in which you take the courses. When will I receive a hard copy of my certificate? You will receive your certificate in the mail 6-8 weeks after completing the program. Once I complete the program and obtain my Certificate, how long is it valid? The NFP Certificate is not a professional credential or license, it is evidence that the program was successfully completed as of a certain year, therefore it does not expire. However, we anticipate that some individual courses may be updated every 1-3 years to reflect changes in the industry. For your certificate to remain current, you will need to successfully complete those updated courses. However, updates are likely to be at a fraction of the cost of the original certificate. Plus, you have access to the program for 24 months from purchase, if the courses are updated during that period, you will have access to the updated courses at no additional cost. Completion of these updated courses will earn a new Certificate, with the current year's date. Is there any cost savings in purchasing the entire certificate over buying tracks individually? Yes, the more courses you buy, the less you pay per course. For instance, a member who buys the certificate will save approximately $150 over someone who buys the tracks individually, and approximately $400 over someone who buys all the courses individually. If I were to purchase one course or track, and then decided to purchase the entire certificate, will I still get the full bundled price savings? Yes, as long as you haven't already paid more than the full certificate price. The price you paid for the courses or tracks you have already taken will be deducted from the total certificate price. If I am unable to complete the entire NFP Certificate Program, will I receive CPE credit for the courses I do complete? You are not required to complete the entire program to earn CPE credit. The courses are offered individually, so you will earn CPE credit for each course you take and successfully complete the exam. However, you must successfully complete the exam for all courses in the entire program in order to receive the NFP Certificate. Am I required to obtain a certain number of CPE credits annually for the Certificate to remain current and active? There are no specific annual requirements for maintaining your Certificate. However, we anticipate that some individual courses may be updated every 1-3 years to reflect changes in the industry. For your certificate to remain current, you will need to successfully complete those updated courses. However, updates are likely to be at a fraction of the cost of the original certificate. Plus, you have access to the program for 24 months from purchase, if the courses are updated during the access period, you will have access to the updated courses at no additional cost. I have prior experience working with NFPs. Will I be allowed to test out of certain courses while still earning the certificate? Actual completion of the courses is required to earn the NFP Certificate. CPE credit is being awarded for the courses, and the CPE standards do not allow for "testing out of" a course as a way to earn credit. System Requirements AICPA's online CPE courses will operate in a variety of configurations, but only the configuration described below is supported by AICPA technicians. A stable and continuous internet connection is required. In order to record your completion of the online learning courses, please ensure you are connected to the internet at all times while taking the course. It is your responsibility to validate that CPE certificate(s) are available within your account after successfully completing the course and/or exam. Supported Operating Systems: Macintosh OS X 10.10 to present Windows 7 to present Supported Browsers: Apple Safari Google Chrome Microsoft Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox Required Browser Plug-ins: Adobe Flash Adobe Acrobat Reader Technical Support: Please contact [email protected].

Has there been a transformation of public service employment relations in Europe since the crisis? Public Service Management and Employment Relations in Europe examines public service employment relations after the economic crisis, including analysis of more than thirty years of public service and workforce reform, and addresses the interplay between an emerging post-crisis public service sector and the consequences for the state, employers and trade unions in core public services. Written by leading national experts, this book places the economic crisis in a longer timeframe and examines how far trends in public sector employment relations were reinforced or reversed by the crisis. It provides an up-to-date analysis of the restructuring of public service employment relations in 12 major European countries, including analysis of little studied central and Eastern European countries. This book will be vital reading for researchers, academics and PhD Students in the fields of Public Management, Public Administration, Employment Relations, and Human Resource Management.

The completely revised and expanded edition of a fundraising classic

"Strategic Fund Development" became an instant classic the day the first edition was released. Now in this expanded third edition, it has been revised cover-to-cover with relevant new information and useful new tools and resources.

The book addresses the needs for fundraisers of every level of expertise. Experienced development officers find this an invaluable reference tool for educating their colleagues and boards. New fundraisers get firm grounding in best practice and what it really takes to do this work. Executive directors learn how fundraising fits into the organization and what it takes to make fundraising productive.Contains in-depth analysis about what makes organizations effective, including things like leadership, organizational culture, decision-making processes, systems thinking, and well-managed changeOffers comprehensive strategic planning insights, with detailed steps, sample research tools, retreat agendas, and complete plansIncludes the same tools and resources for fundraising planning

This updated classic provides essential insights, with an extra bonus: purchasers get exclusive access to a website of tools and resources.

NESsT is an organization that develops sustainable social enterprises to solve critical social problems in emerging market economies. NESsT believes that social enterprise is a powerful tool that provides marginalized communities the skills, accessibility and technology needed to overcome social barriers and break the cycle of poverty. Drawing on NESsT's unique methodology for identifying and building the capacity of early-stage social enterprises, as well as on surveys of relevant stakeholders, Social Enterprise in Emerging Market Countries provides a clear picture of where social enterprises are and where they need to go, and identifies key players in the social enterprise field and how they can take the bold steps needed to facilitate the growth and impact of these models. Etchart and Camolli focus on NESsT's research in Latin America and Central Europe, the two regions where it has operated for over 15 years, particularly in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, with some cases from other countries in Latin America. For the purpose of illustrating important models and innovative programs and policies, this book also highlights cases and experiences from Central Europe.

Why has Warby Parker been able to make such dramatic inroads against the behemoths in the long established eyeglass market? How has Method revolutionized the soap aisle? Amid the cacophony of online retailers, why has Etsy seen such explosive growth, with 2013 annual sales north of $1 billion? These companies all have been disruptive because they are operating from a strong social/environmental purpose. They are proving a counterintuitive truth purpose can drive profits. But it s not just innovative startups that are getting in on the action. Blue chip companies such as Nike, Coca-Cola and IBM are innovating within their organization to create a positive social and environmental impact globally. This is not a trend. It s the future of business. Based on in-depth interviews with founders, Profit & Purpose profiles a number of the most successful pioneers of this new way forward, telling the stories of thirteen social enterprises ranging from non-profits like Charity:Water and DonorsChoose.org, to for-profits, like Method and Burts Bees; from startups like Etsy and Warby Parker, to multinational corporations with market capitalizations in the hundreds of billions, like Coca-Cola, IBM and Nike. Kyle Westaway digs beneath the public stories of these organizations success to reveal how they have harness the power of purpose. Taking readers behind the scenes, he shows how these leading social enterprises progressed from concept to scale, how they overcame common pitfalls, and how they managed to find an optimal balance between their mission and their business mandates. Westaway reveals that though there is no magic bullet formula that guarantees success, there are seven core practices that distinguish these market leaders from the pack of contenders. They are: * DISCOVER THROUGH CURIOSITY // Finding the right opportunity catalyzes impact. * DESIGN WITH HUMILTY // Prioritizing users creates killer products. * BUILD THROUGH HUSTLE // Rallying people creates critical momentum for launch. * FUND BY COMMITMENT // Aligning funders around a vision creates true partnerships. * CONNECT WITH AUTHENTICITY // Authentic connection builds a movement. * SCALE THROUGH COMMUNITY // Focusing on culture ensures smart growth. * EVALUATE WITH HONESTY // Honest measurement ensures continual improvement. Profit & Purpose takes the literature on social entrepreneurship an important step forward, providing the practical tools for turning good intentions into breakaway success.

Extreme poverty continues to afflict the world, and it requires urgent action. Social innovation can be the driving force to spark change and to find common ground for shared value creation, particularly when it is directed at low-income markets. Leading companies have recently developed innovative forms of social innovation by combining three elements - the concept of shared value creation, the theory of the fortune at the bottom of the pyramid, and a corporate social entrepreneurship approach - which they use to enter low-income markets by helping to solve global challenges while simultaneously generating profits.The book identifies the main forms of social innovation: social business models, social products and social communication strategies. Further, it shows how companies can successfully implement social innovation and presents new forms of social business models that can be used to target low-income markets. Finally, the book presents key success factors related to the social product innovation process and corresponding communication.

An essential guide to good governance for board leaders at all levels of experience and expertise

This third edition of the bestselling book for nonprofit board members and professionals offers a thoroughly revised and updated resource that answers the most-commonly asked question on board governance. The book covers such topics as board structure and process, board member recruitment and orientation, board-staff relations, and financial management. This new edition includes updated information on topics that have recently increased in importance including new Form 990; dealing with the financial crisis, risk management, and mergers.Shows executives and board members how to be more effective, meet difficult situations head-on, and deal with commonplace challenges with confidenceTopics include information on the viability of for-profit ventures, board retreats, board diversity, fundraising, financial oversight, strategic thinking, and the use of technologyFrom Boardsource the premier resource for practical information, tools, best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide

Offers insight gained from the BoardSource Governance Index Survey, hundreds of board self-assessments, and questions and challenges heard by BoardSource from thousands of nonprofit leaders.

This book describes the challenges facing charities, explains how they must reassess their commitment, and pushes charities to be their best. It also examines how two sectors of society - business and government - would benefit from a similar corrective journey.

Advocacy organizations are viewed as actors motivated primarily by principled beliefs. This volume outlines a new agenda for the study of advocacy organizations, proposing a model of NGOs as collective actors that seek to fulfil normative concerns and instrumental incentives, face collective action problems, and compete as well as collaborate with other advocacy actors. The analogy of the firm is a useful way of studying advocacy actors because individuals, via advocacy NGOs, make choices which are analytically similar to those that shareholders make in the context of firms. The authors view advocacy NGOs as special types of firms that make strategic choices in policy markets which, along with creating public goods, support organizational survival, visibility, and growth. Advocacy NGOs' strategy can therefore be understood as a response to opportunities to supply distinct advocacy products to well-defined constituencies, as well as a response to normative or principled concerns.

This book provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for successfully implementing the Balanced Scorecard methodology in small- and medium-sized companies. Building on the success of the first edition, the "Second Edition" includes new cases based on the author's experience implementing the balanced scorecard at government and nonprofit agencies. It is a must-read for any organization interested in achieving breakthrough results.

Christianity in the United States has long been organized around congregations and denominations. However, a different type of organization operating outside of these traditional structures is claiming an increasingly important place in the religious market. The growth of Christian nonprofits, popularly called "parachurch" organizations, has been recognized by churchgoers and social scientists alike as an important development that is transforming the composition and dynamics of American Christianity. The size, resources, and activities of this population have made it the public face of American Christianity and altered the relationship between individuals, churches and denominations. Beyond the Congregation utilizes data on almost 2,000 of the largest and most influential Christian nonprofits in the United States to answer some of the key questions raised by these organizations. What explains the growth of Christian nonprofits? What activities are they pursuing? How are they funded and how do they use those funds? Beyond the Congregation provides a much needed examination of these issues that is accessible and informative for scholars, nonprofit executives, religious leaders and the general public.

This is a no-holds-barred, comprehensive, real-world guide to building political power and successfully lobbying for nonprofits in the 21st century, written by an insider who has been in the trenches as both a lobbyist and a government official.

How to make strategic plan to help your nonprofit navigate turbulent financial waters and achieve strengthened revenues

During this time of upheaval and instability with the country's financial markets and economy, you might be wondering how your nonprofit can emerge stronger from this unprecedented turmoil and prepare for future economic cycles. Practical and timely, "Nonprofit Finance for Hard Times: Leadership Strategies When Economies Falter "helps your nonproft get strategic in the weak economy.

"Nonprofit Finance for Hard Times" shows you how surviving the current economic conditions means dedicating yourself to understanding the details of the current financial crisis and identifying those Board members and other leaders who can give you deep analysis on the crisis and act as your analysts of the winners and losers in real time.Emphasizes that the core of all strategy is engagementHelps you reassess your nonprofit's communications tools for both messages and marketsAsserts that the operative need is for strategy, not panicRevisits all assumptionsExplains how to sort and cull past supporters for those who will emerge from the turmoil first and strongestReveals how to identify new audiences

Providing the guidance your nonprofit needs-not to just hang on for the white-knuckle ride, but to plan their best strategy to survive and succeed-"Nonprofit Finance for Hard Times" equips you with the tools you need to get started.

The no-cost way to improve your organization on a daily basis Most nonprofits are already benchmarking informally. This unique book defines a formal way to benchmark. You'll learn how to prepare your organization, measure performance, and implement best practices as well as learning the five key steps of benchmarking, the arguments against benchmarking--and why you should disregard them, how benchmarking differs from evaluation and assessment, how to form a benchmarking team, how to create a "success equation" that helps you measure your organization's performance, how to make sure to measure what matters, how to choose your benchmarking partners--and what you can learn from the "wrong" partner, and how to overcome staff resistance to benchmarking. Practical tools help you benchmark what matters Real-world examples illustrate benchmarking in action. Exercises and worksheets guide you through processes such as drafting a benchmarking plan; identifying and analyzing the things in your organization that need improvement; prioritizing which processes to focus on; identifying your CTQ (critical to quality) outcomes; and more. The way to survive as a nonprofit in today's market is to thrive. With so many organizations seeking the same dollars, only the best will endure. Benchmarking ensures that your organization is always operating at peak performance. It's something you can't afford not to do--especially since you can do it for free