How Effective Nonprofits Work

How Effective Nonprofits Work:
A Guide for Donors, Board Members and Foundation Officers
by Marcia Festen and Marianne Philbin

Published by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers’ New Ventures in Philanthropy Initiative and Donors Forum of Chicago

$30, 100 pages

How Effective Nonprofits Work provides an easy-to-understand introduction to how effective nonprofits operate, geared to donors and new staff, board members and grantmakers. Beginning with the basics of the nonprofit sector, the book progresses to essentials such as assessing nonprofits' effectiveness; the roles of staff, boards and donors; and the importance of fund raising and preparation for the future. The book is infused with lessons learned, including the centrality of funding operating costs, the importance of understanding the financial situations of nonprofits, and the importance of continually developing human, financial and technological resources to keep nonprofits efficient and secure.

The 100-page book blends practical information along with the analytical perspectives of its authors and other experts in an easy-to-scan format filled with charts, bullets and lists. Quick takes on nonprofit strategies, structures and best practices are interspersed with short essays, with special emphasis placed on the importance of educating donors by providing them the means to give with their hearts as well as their heads.

View the book's table of contents and an excerpt from the chapter titled "Giving and Getting: What You See Depends on Where You Sit: How Should Nonprofits Track and Report Results?"

To Order

By Mail: Print out and mail the completed MCF Resource Order Form along with a check for the appropriate amount (payable to Minnesota Council on Foundations) to:

Minnesota Council on Foundations
100 Portland Avenue S., Suite 225
Minneapolis, MN 55401-2575

By Fax (Credit Card Orders Only): If you are paying by credit card, you can print out fax the completed MCF Resource Order Form to MCF at 612.337.5089,

Questions?
Contact the Minnesota Council on Foundations:
Phone: 612.338.1989
E-mail: info@mcf.org