Understanding Nonprofit Organizations

There are no easy solutions to the complexities faced by nonprofit leaders and managers. This textbook addresses the governance, leadership, and management functions of the thousands of organizations in the nonprofit sector that provide an enormous range of services. This thoroughly revised fourth edition of Understanding Nonprofit Organizations does not simply recount and summarize seminal literature; it presents 22 of the most important and informative articles, chapters, and essays written about the workings of nonprofit organizations, alongside 18 case studies that illustrate the complex governing, leading, and managing issues raised in the chapters. The introductions that open each of the sections explore important issues and concepts, provide context, and explain what students should be looking for as they read each of the chapters. Each section introduction has been extensively rewritten or updated to address recent movements and changes in the nonprofit field, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of nonprofit organizations’ functions and ability to raise funds, increasing social and political divides within countries and communities, the gains and problems that have arisen with dramatic expansion of social media, and the need for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our organizations and our society. Understanding Nonprofit Organizations provides a cohesive set of relevant readings for a course on nonprofit organizations and management, and instructors and students will appreciate the original case studies that parallel the major themes presented. The book is also designed for individuals who are hoping or planning to move into paid or voluntary leadership and management positions in nonprofit organizations—as well as for those already involved with nonprofits seeking to improve their skills and understanding of their chosen field.

Understanding Nonprofit Organizations examines the most important issues that face today's leaders and managers of nonprofit organizations through the writing of scholars, consultants, and practicing executives. It focuses on governing, leading, and managing nonprofit organizations and how such organizations differ from both the public and private sectors. Each part opens with a framing essay that identifies the central themes and issues and summarizes the significance of the contribution that each piece makes to the development of knowledge in the field. Completely revised and updated, the third edition includes new articles on legal frameworks, philanthropy, managing volunteers and accountability, as well as an original essay on capacity building. In addition, the third edition features new, thought-provoking case studies by C. Kenneth Meyer--making it an even more student-friendly text for graduate and upper-division undergraduate nonprofit organizations and management survey courses.

Understanding Nonprofit and Tax Exempt Organizations is a guide for the law student or practitioner who is looking to understand the law governing the nonprofit, tax exempt sector. This text deals with the many types of tax exempt organizations; the rules, regulations and limitations imposed on tax exempt organizations by the courts, the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and the Treasury Regulations (Regulations); the charitable contribution and fundraising issues affecting tax exempt organizations; the unrelated business income tax, excise taxes and intermediate sanctions imposed on tax exempt organizations; and the rules regarding private foundations. In light of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, this new third edition includes a more detailed chapter on Churches and religious organizations, reflecting recent changes in the law overall for charitable nonprofit organizations and sets out new IRS online filing and reporting requirements put in place during the pandemic. The third edition of Understanding Nonprofit and Tax Exempt Organizations begins with an introduction to nonprofit organizations by discussing the relevant law in general, as nonprofits are governed by state law. Next, tax exempt organizations are discussed, by first giving the reader the background on where such organizations fit in the nonprofit sector; why the organizations are given preferential tax treatment; what form these organizations take; and how such organizations are governed and dissolved. The third edition also provides detailed explanations of the various rules, regulations and tests organizations must follow in order to obtain or retain their tax exempt status as well as the consequences for failure to comply and looks at the court created commerciality and public policy doctrines.

MANAGING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS This essential resource offers an overall understanding of nonprofits based on both the academic literature and practitioner experience. It shows how to lead, manage, govern, and structure effective and ethical nonprofit organizations. Managing Nonprofit Organizations reveals what it takes to be entrepreneurial and collaborative, formulate successful strategies, assess performance, manage change, acquire resources, be a responsible financial steward, and design and implement solid marketing and communication plans. "Managing Nonprofit Organizations is the only introductory text on this subject that manages to do three critical things equally well: It's comprehensive, covering all the key topics leaders of NPOs need to know about; it's practical, providing lots of examples, case incidents, and experiential exercises that connect the content to the real world; and, best of all (and most unique compared to others), it's research-based, drawing on the latest and best empirical studies that look into what works and doesn't work in the world of nonprofit management." —Vic Murray, professor, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria "This book is a rarity—a text that can be used both as the focus for academic study and as a source of stimulating ideas for those practitioners who want to explore theories about management and how they can be applied so they can do a better job. Tschirhart and Bielefeld have explained all aspects of nonprofit management and leadership in a way that will stimulate as well as inform." —Richard Brewster, executive director, National Center on Nonprofit Enterprise, Virginia Tech University "Managing Nonprofit Organizations presents a comprehensive treatment of this important topic. The book satisfies the competencies and curriculum guidelines developed by NASPAA and by NACC and would be ideal for instruction. The book maintains its commitment to informing management and leadership throughout the nonprofit sector." —Jeffrey L. Brudney, Albert A. Levin Chair of Urban Studies and Public Service, Cleveland State University "This is an important book, written by two of the leading scholars in the nonprofit studies field. Nonprofit managers, board members, funders, educators, and others will find Managing Nonprofit Organizations extremely valuable." —Michael O' Neill, professor of nonprofit management, University of San Francisco "Here's the book that my students have been asking for—just the right mix of theory presentation, research findings, and practical suggestions to serve the thoughtful nonprofit management practitioner. It will inform, instruct, and ultimately, inspire." —Rikki Abzug, professor of management, Anisfield School of Business, Ramapo College

Offers a valuable resource for scholars, teachers, students, and nonprofit practitioners interested in understanding nonprofit work from a communication perspective This sophisticated yet accessible book explores the dynamics of organizational communication in the context of nonprofit work. It delves deeply into the subjects of communication and social construction and develops several key subject areas and issues including leadership, management, and governance; the marketization of nonprofit work; collaboration and organizational partnerships; meaningful labor; and international nonprofit work. Understanding Nonprofit Work: A Communication Perspective is the first resource to bring together the considerable and voluminous amount of communication scholarship and nonprofit research available in academia. Moving beyond the simplistic notion of communication as merely the transmission of information, it instead develops a more insightful approach to nonprofit work based on the concept of communication as social construction, explaining the implications and applications of this distinct communication perspective in ways that will benefit both communication scholars and nonprofit practitioners. Additionally, this book: Brings together a wealth of information in communication theory and nonprofit organizations in a thoughtful, approachable style Demonstrates the application and utility of a communication perspective across several key aspects of nonprofit work Written by two well-known scholars in the field with considerable experience in nonprofit work—teaching, research, volunteering, consulting, and board membership Understanding Nonprofit Work is an ideal book for advanced undergraduate and graduate level students in courses on nonprofit work, or broader classes on organizational communication and public administration that have units on the nonprofit sector. This book is also perfect for nonprofit professionals looking to develop a more sophisticated and insightful approach to their work.

Expert contributors offer insights from economics, history, and other disciplines to define the nonprofit's place and mission in a market economy--from soliciting contributions and recruiting volunteers to government regulation of nonprofit activity.

Michael J. Worth’s student-friendly best-seller, Nonprofit Management: Principles and Practice, Fifth Edition, provides a broad, insightful overview of key topics affecting governance and management of nonprofit organizations. Worth covers the scope and structure of the nonprofit sector, leadership of nonprofits, managing the nonprofit organization, fundraising, earned income strategies, financial management, nonprofit lobbying and advocacy, managing international and global organizations, and social entrepreneurship. Written specifically for students, this applied text balances research, theory, and practitioner literature with current cases, timely examples, and the most recent data available. New to the Fifth Edition New cases related to accountability and governance highlight new approaches to recent controversies and risks to nonprofits. Cases include the Wounded Warriors Project, Sweet Briar College, 4-H, Housing First, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, the National Audubon Society, and an expanded study of governance issues at the Hershey Trust. Expanded discussions of risk management offer new insights on developing strategy, building capacity, and managing risk. New social networks and social media content provides students with practical strategies for using social media when fundraising and marketing. A new comprehensive case on the Girl Scouts of the USA recounts reforms undertaken by this iconic organization and current challenges it faces. The chapter on financial management has been substantially revised to reflect new requirements for nonprofit financial statements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in 2016, as well as an expanded discussion of audits. An updated chapter on fundraising includes information on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December 2017, which has implications for charitable giving. New references at the end of every chapter guide readers to relevant cases in the Appendix, making it easy for instructors to incorporate the cases into classroom discussions.