In Striving for Excellence in the Social Sector, Eric Schmall commemorates the achievements of the social profits in the Louisville and Southern Indiana region that have been recognized during this past decade by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Through his review of the five award categories (Art of Vision, Art of Leadership, Art of Governance, Art of Collaboration, and Art of Diversity) Eric reveals how these key subject areas are vital to creating a vibrant, successful social sector. He then takes the next step by revealing how these principles have been used by over fifty award-winning social profits-including organizations with mission focus in the arts, culture, humanities, religion, education, environment, human services, health, and international aid-as they take the hero's journey toward outstanding mission achievement.

IF YOUR NONPROFIT BOARD SEEMS BEWILDERED OVER ITS TRUE ROLE, doesn't understand the mission, allows the organization to drift aimlessly, squabbles with its executive director over authority and responsibility--then get ready to have all of that disorder and confusion cleared up once and for all. ShipShape offers your nonprofit a simple, engaging, and refreshingly unique guide to governing and managing your organization. This guidebook assures clear sailing into wide-open ocean of absorbing ideas and stirring tales illustrating how to skillfully navigate your nonprofit toward mission success. Drawing over forty years of management experience, including over a decade consulting with hundreds of nonprofit boards and executive directors, Eric Schmall offers a masterful and proven method of thinking about how nonprofits can and should act to bring results they promise to their communities. Clever, absorbing, and easily accessible, ShipShape will leave you with a deeply practical appreciation of how to govern and steer your nonprofit with a steadfast, resolute hand.