Trying to change the world for the better is a difficult task.
Nonprofit organizations face several challenges. they fight regulations and struggle to find the money to accomplish their missions. they struggle to get the word out about what they do and juggle the expectations of donors and shareholders, to name just a few.
You are reading: Non profit organization books
In such a challenging environment, learning is essential. Knowing the right resources to turn to is an important part of being a resilient nonprofit professional.
These are the top 10 nonprofit books for nonprofit leaders:
- start with why: how great leaders inspire everyone to take action
- the promise of a pencil: how an ordinary person can create extraordinary change
- forces for good: the six practices of high-impact nonprofits
- the blue sweater: bridging the gap between rich and poor in an interconnected world
- the point of tipping
- the networked nonprofit: connecting with social media to drive change
- the lean startup
- switch: how to change the things when change is hard
- charity case: how the nonprofit community can fight back and really change the world
- do kind things: think without limits, work with determination, live with passion
1. start with why: how great leaders inspire everyone to take action
author: simon sinek
Author of the third most popular ted talk of all time, Simon Sinek is a British/American author, motivational speaker, and marketing consultant. His unconventional and innovative views on business and leadership have attracted international attention.
in starting with why, sinek argues that organizations should put their “why” at the forefront of their communications and strategy. he believes it’s not the “what” or the “how” that motivates and retains talent, drives sales, or attracts top prospects to the board.
When most organizations or people think, act or communicate, they do so from the outside in, from what to why. They range from the tangible to the intangible. sinek suggests that the most successful organizations are those that manage to communicate from the inside out.
If you’ve already seen his ted talk, the book can get a bit repetitive.
however, it contains valuable information for the nonprofit world, especially regarding how nonprofits can communicate what they do to the outside world. Start with why it’s definitely on our list of the best nonprofit books.
“All organizations start with the why, but only the big ones keep their why clear year after year. those who forget why they were founded show up in the race every day to outdo others instead of outdoing themselves. the chase, for those who lose sight of why they are running the race, is for the medal or to beat someone else.”
2. the promise of a pencil: how an ordinary person can create extraordinary change
author: adam braun
adam braun is an american businessman, bestselling author and philanthropist. After attending Brown University, Adam traveled to more than 50 countries. he asked local children around the world what they wanted most in the world. In India, a boy begging on the streets told Adam that he wanted a pencil. Adam gave the boy his own pencil, but this story inspired Braun and eventually led him to start his own organization: Promise Pencils.
started the organization with just $25 and has since built over 200 schools around the world.
Each chapter in The Promise of a Pencil, believed by many to be one of the best nonprofit books out there, explains a clear step each person can take to turn their greatest ambitions into reality, even with just $25.
braun has received some criticism for calling himself “an ordinary person”, having come from a very privileged upbringing.
However, the lessons in the book can be used as inspiration for anyone. Adam himself shows that he is well aware of his background, repeatedly expressing gratitude for him. this is a heartwarming nonprofit book for all of you looking for some inspiration.
“Most of all, I will remind you each morning that we make a choice to bring positivity or negativity into the world, and that within each person lies an extraordinary story waiting to unfold.”
3. Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits
authors: leslie crutchfield and heather mcleod grant
leslie r. Crutchfield is a Managing Director of Ashoka and an Aspen Institute Research Fellow. Heather McLeod Grant is a nonprofit consultant and advisor to the Center for Advancing Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University and the Stanford Center for Social Innovation.
The two authors studied 12 large, global nonprofit organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Then they discovered 6 key practices that high-impact nonprofits employ to achieve extraordinary impact.
In 2012, the book was updated to include how the six practices could be applied to local and smaller nonprofits.
This book has lessons for all readers interested in creating meaningful social change, including nonprofit managers, donors, and volunteers.
is a must-read, evidence-based nonprofit book for anyone thinking about any aspect of nonprofits, from working for one to starting one. addresses fundraising, meetings, setup, and legwork.
“what we found surprised us, and contradicted perceived wisdom in the field. achieving large-scale social change is not just about building an organization and then expanding it site by site. many of these groups are not perfectly managed. not all are well marketed. and at least half do not score well on conventional ratings because they care more about having an impact than having low overall budgets. they do whatever it takes to get results.”
4. the blue sweater: bridging the gap between rich and poor in an interconnected world
author: jacqueline novogratz
See Also: Log Books | United States Rules | Logbooks United States | Truck Driving School | Commercial Drivers
Jacqueline Novogratz is an American businesswoman and author. she is the founder and executive director of acumen, an organization that seeks to solve the most difficult problems of poverty.
In 2009, Novogratz published the New York Times bestseller, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World. The book is a first-hand account of her journey from international banker to social entrepreneur and founder of Insight.
novogratz was inspired to write the blue sweater when he met a guy in rwanda. She was wearing a sweater, with her name still on the tag inside, that she had donated to goodwill 11 years ago.
This book, in the end, is more autobiographical than practical, but it is an inspiring and raw read for anyone who has been toying with the idea of going into advocacy, development, and social work.
the blue sweater is essentially a guide to what not to do in global aid. what’s particularly beautiful about this nonprofit book is that the lessons come not from a place of superiority, but from deep humility.
“Solutions to poverty must be driven by discipline, responsibility and market strength, not easy sentimentality. it is about building solutions from the perspective of poor people rather than imposing grand theories and plans on them.”
5. the turning point
author: malcolm gladwell
malcolm gladwell has been a staff writer for the new yorker since 1996. he is an english/canadian journalist, author and speaker. He has written five books so far, and all of them have been on the New York Times bestseller list.
Tipping Point was inspired by a sudden drop in crime in New York City. Gladwell sought to explain this and similar phenomena through epidemiology.
The tipping point explains the phenomenon of why some products, companies, and authors become hugely successful (“advice”) while others never seem to separate themselves from the masses as anything special.
gladwell wrote it before social media became ubiquitous and ubiquitous, but draws on a variety of universal concepts from psychology and sociology to explain why some things “catch fire” and others don’t.
>
gladwell is a storyteller, so the book is written in such a way that most people can easily understand it.
the turning point is one of the best nonprofit books for communicators.
“Look at the world around you. it can seem like an immovable, unforgiving place. it is not. with the slightest push, in the right place, it can tip over.”
6. the networked nonprofit: connecting with social media to drive change
authors: beth kanter and allison fine
beth kanter is a nonprofit expert and has been writing online for years about how nonprofits and technology are merging in the 21st century. Allison Fine is an award-winning author, co-editor, and blogger about the intersection of social media and social change.
The Networked Nonprofit is a guide for nonprofit organizations looking to incorporate social media into their activities. Practical examples from the field and success stories that are easy to emulate fill the book. it’s structured like a how-to manual, but it doesn’t seem preachy.
Being a successful nonprofit today requires capitalizing on the possibilities of new social media technologies.
While nonprofit networking is likely to be most relevant to nonprofits just beginning to use social media to foster social change, the strength of this book lies in providing a clear framework. about how nonprofits can think about social media.
This was a groundbreaking non-profit book when it was written in 2010. It is now a bit outdated as social media has become more integrated into our personal and professional lives. despite this, it remains one of the most useful nonprofit books.
“Networked nonprofits are simple, transparent organizations. they are easy for outsiders to get in and easy for insiders to get out. they engage people to shape and share their work to raise awareness of social issues, organize communities to provide services, or advocate for legislation…networked nonprofits don’t work harder or longer time than other organizations, they function differently.”
7. the lean start-up
author: eric ries
Eric Ries is an American entrepreneur, blogger, and author.
The lean startup preface indicates that too many startups start with an idea for a product that they think people want. then they spend months, sometimes years, perfecting that product without even showing it to the prospect. A core component of the lean startup methodology is the “build-measure-learn” feedback loop. the loop is based on the idea of building an mvp (minimum viable product) and testing it as soon as possible.
See Also: 12 WLW & Lesbian Phone or Online Romance Novels – Jae
This approach can be transformative for nonprofits. It allows nonprofits to spend as little as possible on early, often unsuccessful, attempts to solve problems. this provides a great opportunity to expand the impact and efficiency of the social sector.
lean startup challenges the nonprofit sector to become smarter and more agile with strategy, program design, and implementation.
“we must learn what customers really want, not what they say they want or what we think they should want”.
8. switch: how to change things when change is difficult
authors: dan and chip heath
chip heath is a professor at the stanford graduate school of business, where he teaches courses on business strategy and organization. dan heath is a senior fellow at the duke university case center, which supports social entrepreneurs.
The two brothers are co-authors of three New York Times bestsellers: Decisive, Switch, and Made to Stick.
switch talks about how difficult it is to implement change in our companies, careers, and lives, why change is so difficult, and how to overcome resistance. switch identifies the factors crucial to effecting lasting change for both individuals and organizations.
The book talks about three components of change: the rational side (the rider), the emotional side (the elephant), and the situational world (the road). the heath brothers focus on how to improve each of these three components with simple guidelines and real life suggestions.
switch is particularly useful when thinking about how to implement changes in your nonprofit organization.
That’s why this change is on our “Best Nonprofit Books” list!
“Knowledge does not change behavior,” he said. “We’ve all come across crazy psychiatrists, obese doctors, and divorced marriage counselors.”
9. charity case: how the nonprofit community can fight back and really change the world
author: dan pallotta
Dan Pallotta is an American businessman, author, and humanitarian activist. In the past five years alone, Dan has given more than 275 talks on philanthropy and innovation in 34 states and eight countries.
dan’s first bestseller, uncharitable, explored how the nonprofit sector evolved. charity case takes the next big step and discusses ways to start changing the status quo.
charity case established several ways for charities to be held accountable. suggests many immediate action steps. they all re-educate people on what makes an effective nonprofit.
dan pallotta is a voice worth listening to. You may not agree with every word, but her nonprofit book will make you think differently about the nonprofit sector.
“if you put these five things together: you can’t use money to attract talent, you can’t advertise, you can’t take risks, you can’t invest in long-term results, and you don’t have a stock market, then we’re done. of putting the humanitarian sector at the most extreme disadvantage against the for-profit sector at all levels, and then calling the whole system charity, as if there was something incredibly sweet about it. .”
10. do the nice thing: think without limits, work with determination, live passionately
author: daniel lubetzky
Daniel Lubetzky is a social entrepreneur, CEO and founder of Kind Healthy Snacks and the Kind Movement. he is the founder of peaceworks and onevoice and co-founder of the clothing company maiyet.
While lubetzky didn’t create a nonprofit, he talks in depth about his approach to impacting the world and other businesses by implementing a “not just for profit” model.
The book is actually about the history and mission of the friendly corporation. lubetzky takes a simple approach to learning how to run a rewarding business you’re passionate about. The message of this book is to be kind to yourself, kind to others, and stay focused on your passion.
This is one of the nonprofit books that will inspire and motivate you to keep working for your nonprofit’s mission!
“I am aware of my role as the founder and CEO of kind and my responsibility to hold myself to the highest possible level of ethics and human behavior.”
conclusion
From the smallest nonprofits to grassroots movements to large established organizations, strong leadership is vital. and great leadership can be hard to cultivate. staying current and investing in your own personal and professional growth can help you acquire the necessary leadership qualities.
From the inspiring promise of a pencil, do the nice thing, and the blue sweater to practical forces for good, networked nonprofit and change, to the thought-provoking tipping point, begin With the why, lean start-up and charity case, these books offer great solutions.
Happy reading!
See Also: The Ultimate List of the Best Picture Books, Endorsed by Kids Parents