Women And Power In The Nonprofit Sector

Throughout history, the predominantly female nonprofit work force has made significant contributions to American society. When Jane Addams established Hull House in a Chicago slum at the turn of the century and helped found the social work profession, the nonprofit sector work force - mainly female volunteers - had only limited access to prestige and power.

Provides a multi-disciplinary survey of nonprofit organizations and their role and function in society. This book also examines the nature of philanthropic behaviours and an array of organizations, international issues, social science theories, and insight.

The current fashion for rolling back the state has seen the nonprofit or third sector playing an increasing role in what were previously the heartlands of the public sphere. The growing significance of the sector and its increasing reliance on public funds mean it has also attracted increased scrutiny. From outside the sector concerns have been raised about the accountability and performance of nonprofit organizations. From within the sector there has been considerable debate about whether the increased reliance on government contracts is in danger of undermining the sector’s independence. As a result the spotlight has fallen on governance arrangements and whether they are adequate to ensure that nonprofit organizations are effective and accountable for their actions, and able to retain their independence. This collection offers a comprehensive assessment of research on the governance of nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit governance research has been dominated by the study of boards of unitary organizations and has paid insufficient attention to the multi-level nature of governance, governance relationships and dynamics, and the contribution of actors other than board members, to governance processes. Drawing on the research of leading scholars in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, this book presents new perspectives on non-profit governance, which help to overcome these weaknesses. Written in an accessible manner the book will be of value to scholars, researchers, students, reflective practitioners and governance consultants and advisers.

A guide for nonprofits and social change organizations on how to tap the potential of the female market and why it helps. The secret to changing the world is hidden in plain sight. In fact, it’s half the population. Women vote more, volunteer more, and give to more charities than men do. They control over half of the total wealth in America. Corporations have long recognized the growing power of women and have been targeting them for years. The She Spot is a practical and provocative primer showing how nonprofits and social change organizations can do it too. Lisa Witter and Lisa Chen cite eye-opening research that reveals some surprising facts: women are less likely to trust politicians and politics as usual; African American women donate a larger percentage of their income to nonprofits than white women but get asked to give a lot less often; and in one poll only seven percent of women identified “protecting reproductive choice,” supposedly the women’s issue, as a top priority for Congress. Building on insights like these, they identify and describe four core principles—care, control, connect, and cultivate—for designing messages that will resonate with women of all ages and backgrounds. And using case histories from companies like Home Depot, T-Mobile, and Kellogg’s as well as nonprofits like MoveOn.org, the American Lung Association, and the Environmental Defense Fund, they explain precisely how to put these four principles into practice. This book makes the case that simply painting your marketing campaign “pink” and calling it a day will miss the mark with most women. Witter and Chen show that connecting with women can help you connect with men too—think both/and, not either/or. You’ll raise more money and recruit more supporters for your cause. In the end, those who hit the “She Spot” claim the power to create a better, brighter world for all of us. “Smart, engaging, and eminently useful, The She Spot puts its finger on how to score with the key drivers of social change: women.” —Arianna Huffington “The authors present their material efficiently and engagingly, tackling the motivation—both social and neurological—behind women’s contributions and interest, and the methods to appeal to them, from news media to online. Bolstered with helpful chapter takeaway lists and concrete examples of companies that have successfully reached the female audience, Witter and Chen have crafted a thoughtful, helpful guide to nonprofit marketers.” —Publishers Weekly

This compilation of scholarly reviews and personal reflections on women and leadership styles focuses on multicultural and organizational issues—empowering information that female leaders can use to break through the glass ceiling. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor are just two of the most visible examples among the hundreds of thousands of women nationwide today in leadership positions. Female leaders at the grassroots to global levels are everywhere, lending credence to the idea that the glass ceiling for women may finally be thinning. This two-volume work provides an exhaustive examination of the scholarly research on women leaders and the leadership philosophies that have enabled their success. Volume one of Women as Transformational Leaders: From Grassroots to Global Interests presents an overview of stereotypes, attributions, and stigma about women leaders that focuses on social and psychological reasons for discrimination against women leaders. The second volume addresses cultural and organizational issues, including global leadership to eliminate violence against women and international insights on women and transformational leadership. The subject of transformational leadership in viewed within several disciplines, including women's studies, religion, the public sector, and private sector, documenting how far women have advanced—and how their leadership style typically differs from that of men.

Leaders of nonprofit organizations deliver programs and services vital to the quality of life in the United States. All the activities of our religious communities; the vast majority of the arts and culture, human services, and community development pursuits; as well as education and environmental advocacies take root and deliver their services within the nonprofit sector. Welcome to the world of leadership in nonprofit organizations. This sector offers an opportunity to serve as well as to lead. Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations: A Reference Handbook engages voices on issues and leadership topics important to those seeking to understand more about this dynamic sector of society. A major focus of this two-volume reference work is on the specific roles and skills required of the nonprofit leader in voluntary organizations. Key Features Presents contributions from a wide range of authors who reflect the variety, vibrancy, and creativity of the sector itself Provides an overview of the history of nonprofit organizations in our country Describes a robust and diverse assortment of organizations and opportunities for leadership Explores the nature of leadership and its complexity as exemplified in the nonprofit sector Includes topics such as personalities of nonprofit leaders; vision and starting a nonprofit organization; nonprofit law, statutes, taxation, and regulations; strategic management; financial management; collaboration; public relations for promoting a nonprofit organization; and human resource policies and procedures Nonprofit organizations are a large, independent, diverse, and dynamic part of our society. This landmark Handbook tackles issues relevant to leadership in the nonprofit realm, making it a welcome addition to any academic or public library.

A landmark three-volume reference work documenting philanthropy and the nonprofit sector throughout American history, edited by the field's most widely recognized authority. Developed under the guidance of Dr. Dwight Burlingame of the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, one of the nation's premier institutes for the study of philanthropy, the three-volume Philanthropy in America: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia is the definitive work on philanthropic, charitable, and nonprofit endeavors in the United States. The first section of the encyclopedia contains over 200 A–Z entries covering the lives of important philanthropists, the missions and practices of key institutions and organizations, and the impact of seminal events throughout the history of the nonprofit sector in America, from precolonial times to the present. Discussions of philanthropic traditions in ancient civilizations, in Europe during colonial times, and in countries around the world today provide fascinating contexts for understanding how the American philanthropic experience has developed. The encyclopedia also includes a collection of primary source documents (legislation, foundation reports, mission statements, etc.) for convenient review and further research.