Understanding Nonprofit Organizations Governance, Leadership, and Management

Foreword by David O. Renz 

1. Board of Directors 

Stephen R. Block (1998) 

2. Ethno-racial Diversity on Nonprofit Boards: A Critical Mass Perspective 

Christopher Fredette and Ruth Sessler Bernstein (2019) 

CASE STUDY 1: Welcome to the Board of Directors 

C. Kenneth Meyer and Alison Lemke 

CASE STUDY 2: Leadership and Growth Challenges in Nonprofit Organizations 

Julie Ann O’Connell, Benjamin S. Bingle, and C. Kenneth Meyer 

Part II: The Legal Framework (Jared C. Bennett) 

3. Nonprofit Organizations Law Generally 

Bruce R. Hopkins (2013) 

4. Non-Governmental Organizations: Anticorruption Compliance Challenges and Risks   

CASE STUDY 3: Daughter Dearest: Nonprofit Nepotism 

CASE STUDY 4: Conflicting Values 

5. Executive Director 

6. Critical Standpoint: Leaders of Color Advancing Racial Equality in Predominately White Organizations 

Brad. R. Fulton, Michelle Oyakawa,, and Richard L Wood (2019) 

CASE STUDY 5: Organizational Stability in the Midst of Turnover and Leadership Change   

Julie Ann O’Connell, Benjamin S. Bingle, and C. Kenneth Meyer 

CASE STUDY 6: Best Laid Plans: Challenges in Strategic Planning 

Betsy Hull, Benjamin S. Bingle, and C. Kenneth Meyer 

7. A Manager’s Guide to Choosing and Using Collaborative Networks 

H. Brinton Milward and Keith G. Provan (2006) 

8. Effective Leadership in Network Collaboration: Lessons Learned from Continuum of Care Homeless Programs 

Hee Soun Jang, Jesús N. Valero, and Kyujin Jung (2016) 

9. How Does a Board of Directors Influence within- and Cross-sector Nonprofit Collaboration? 

Jennifer Ihm and Michelle Shumate (2018) 

CASE STUDY 7: Fostering Growth Through Capacity Building  

Valencia Prentice and Mohamad Bamanie 

CASE STUDY 8: Show Me the Money 

C. Kenneth Meyer and Stacy Gibbs 

10. Capacity-Building: Strategies for Successful Fundraising 

Michele T. Cole (2016) 

11. Analyzing the Dynamics of Funding: Reliability and Autonomy 

Jon Pratt (2004) 

CASE STUDY 9: Ethical Considerations in Fundraising 

Carol Sipfle and C. Kenneth Meyer 

CASE STUDY 10: The Selling of America  

Garry L. Frank and C. Kenneth Meyer 

12. Philanthropic Social Ventures: A Framework and Profile of the Emerging Field 

Holona LeAnne Ochs (2012) 

13. Political Advocacy by Nonprofit Organizations: A Strategic Management Explanation 

Kelly Leoux and Holly T. Goerdel (2009) 

CASE STUDY 11: Southwest County Foodbank: Nonprofit Board Advocacy 

Julie Ann O’Connell, Benjamin S. Bingle, and C. Kenneth Meyer 

CASE STUDY 12: Volunteer and Donor Recruitment on Social Media 

Julie Ann O’Connell, Benjamin S. Bingle, and C. Kenneth Meyer 

14. Types of Nonprofit Income: Financial and Cash Flow Management Considerations 

Murray Dropkin and Allyson Hayden (2001) 

15. Resiliency Tactics During Financial Crisis: The Nonprofit Resiliency Framework 

Elizabeth A. M. Searing, Kimberly K. Wiley, and Sarah L. Young (2021) 

CASE STUDY 13: Throwing the First E-Stone 

C. Kenneth Meyer 

CASE STUDY 14: When the Funding Stops 

Don Munkers and C. Kenneth Meyer 

16. Exploring the Dynamics of Volunteer and Staff Interactions: From Satisfaction to Conflict

Heather Rimes, Rebecca Nesbit, Robert K. Christensen, and Jeffrey L. Brudney (2017) 

17. Volunteers as Boundary Workers: Negotiating Tensions Between Volunteerism and Professionalism in Nonprofit Organizations 

Kirstie McAllum (2018) 

CASE STUDY 15: Changing of the Guard: Leadership Change in Nonprofit Organizations 

Betsy Hull, Benjamin S. Bingle, and C. Kenneth Meyer 

CASE STUDY 16: Turning the Tide: Transitioning from Volunteers to Paid Staff 

Julie Ann O’Connell, Benjamin S. Bingle, and C. Kenneth Meyer 

18. Accountability Online: Understanding the Web-Based Accountability Practices of Nonprofit Organizations 

Gregory D. Saxton and Chao Guo (2011) 

19. Measuring the Networked Nonprofit: Using Data to Change the World 

CASE STUDY 17: Technology and Transparency at the Museum 

CASE STUDY 18: Measure Twice, Cut Once: Performance Evaluation in Nonprofit Organizations   

Biography

Lisa A. Dicke is Professor of Public Administration at the University of North Texas, USA.

J. Steven Ott is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Public Affairs at the University of Utah, USA.

"This is the book that I have been looking for in my teaching that incorporates the most comprehensive and up-to-date management aspects and policy issues surrounding the nonprofit scholarly and practitioner community. By addressing current events/trends/movements affecting the field, such as the impacts of the global pandemic, social media, societal/political division; and enhanced societal awareness (social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion), this book will play its pioneering role to lead the discourse and critical thinking much needed at this critical juncture in this field. I commend the book editors’ remarkable job bringing distinguished articles and chapters that critically review, practically resolve, and insightfully comprehend complex issues/challenges facing nonprofits. Nonprofit practices and research evidently evolve and advance thanks to such efforts contributed by dedicated editors and chapter authors of this seminal book."

Bok Gyo Jeong, Department of Public Administration, Kean University

"Understanding Nonprofit Organizations edited by Drs. J. Steven Ott and Lisa Dicke is a wonderful textbook for my nonprofit management class. This book covers all critical aspects of governance and operations of nonprofit organizations and supplements the conceptual discussions with case studies, which is perfect for students learning about nonprofit management. The introductions to each section of the book by the editors summarize and highlight the section’s significance and implications for practice. This book is a great one-stop resource as it compiles literature surrounding the most salient nonprofit management topics that students need to know about. I have been using this book in my graduate class for a long time and will continue using it as it is updated with more relevant nonprofit management topics."

Karabi C. Bezboruah, Associate Professor and Director of PhD programs at The University of Texas at Arlington

"Understanding Nonprofit Organizations provides an effective overview of critical, contemporary challenges facing today’s nonprofit managers and complements that with interesting case studies to highlight these real-world issues. This book helps students and nonprofit managers create more successful, equitable nonprofit organizations. It is a must-read for anyone interested in nonprofit organizations."　

Rebecca Nesbit, University of Georgia

"These chapters are written by leading scholars and professionals, people who know their topics very well, and they are organized and presented in a way that brings important clarity to the management of this new generation of nonprofit organizations. We are fortunate to have this valuable resource to inform our work in these exciting and promising times."

David O. Renz, from the Preface to Understanding Nonprofit Organizations, 4^th Edition

"Understanding Nonprofit Organizations sets itself apart from other textbooks in seeking to provide the best of both worlds – a consideration of the complexity and challenges of the nonprofit sector from a practical, applied standpoint, and a firm root in the academic literature on the topic."

Christopher L. Atkinson, Assistant Professor, Department of Administration and Law - Public Administration Program, University of West Florida