Planning, Management, and Leadership

1. Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits. Leslie Crutchfield & Heather McLeod Grant; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2007; 336 pages. An innovative guide on how nonprofits can create significant social change. The authors studied twelve nonprofits with extraordinary accomplishments and discovered six surprising practices they all used to have a strong positive lasting social impact.
2. Managing the Nonprofit Organization (Paperback). Peter F. Drucker; Harper Collins: New York; 2006; 256 pages. This book provides advice, examples and explanations of mission, leadership, goals, marketing and more with resources. Interviews with nine experts also address key issues. The author has written 35 books and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
3. The Elements of Great Managing. Rodd Wagner & James K. Harter; Gallup Press; 2006; 237 pages. This is the sequel to the 1999 Bestseller, First, Break All the Rules by the Gallup Organization which highlighted the best of one million employee and manager interviews on workplace excellence. This book follows great managers as they turn around a failing call center, save a struggling hotel, and successfully face other challenges. It explains the twelve management elements involved in creating and sustaining employee engagement.
4. How to Manage an Effective Nonprofit Organization: From Writing and Managing Grants to Fundraising, Board Development, and Strategic Planning. Michael A. Sand; Career Press: Franklin Lakes, NJ; 2005; 222 pages. Explanations, examples and recommendations on running effective meetings, hiring and keeping the best people, maximizing opportunities to obtain grant funds while minimizing time spent, preparing better proposals, managing funds, establishing a volunteer program and forming community coalitions that work.
5. Strategic Planning Made Easy for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide. Howard W. Olsen & Nancy D. Olsen; M3 Planning, Inc.: Reno, NV; 2005; 103 pages. A self-guided resource designed to increase focus, clarity and effectiveness. Worksheets are included in each of twelve chapters to: identify advantage, develop mission and vision statements, identify values, write objectives, assess environments, target stakeholders, develop goals and tactics, analyze finances, and implement and assess strategic plans.
6. Leadership in Organizations (6th Edition). Gary A.Yuki; Prentice Hall; 2005; 542 pages. Comprehensive manual focused on leadership and managerial effectiveness that includes major theories, extensive research studies, practical recommendations and guidelines on improving leadership skills, with case studies and questions.
7. Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement (3rd Edition). John M. Bryson; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2004; 464 pages. This revised edition contains detailed guidance with tools, techniques and examples on how to implement the planning process. Information is included about organizational design to encourage strategic thought and action, create public value, analyze stakeholders, map strategy, manage strategically, collaborate effectively and more.
8. The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management (2nd Edition). Robert D. Herman & Associates; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2004; 816 pages. Twenty eight experts provide an encyclopedic amount of information on the nature of nonprofits and their context in society, leadership issues, the development and management of financial resources, managing staff/volunteers, lobbying, operations management, ethics, government contracts and more.
9. The Servant Leader: How to Build a Creative Team, Develop Great Morale, and Improve Bottom-Line Performance. James A. Autry; Three Rivers Press: New York; 288 pages. Servant Leadership is the idea that managing with respect, honesty and love empowers employees. The author is a former Fortune 500 executive who explains the tools, skills and ideals that will help leaders nurture the needs and goals of their employees to create a more productive, successful, meaningful and happier organization.
10. Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations (2nd edition +CD-Rom). Michael Allison & Jude Kaye; John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: New York; 2003; 480 pages. This book provides the knowledge and tools needed to develop and implement surefire strategic plans (set priorities; develop core strategies, goals, and objectives; and balance dual bottom lines of mission and money). Includes tested-in-the-trenches worksheets, checklists, and tables (printed and on CD-ROM) and a book-length case study.
11. Breakthrough Thinking for Nonprofit Organizations: Creative Strategies for Extraordinary Results. Bernard Ross & Clare Segal; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2002; 288 pages. Travel the route to creativity and imagination with effective organizational and personal performance through this combination of textbook, map and storybook. Creative theories are illustrated with diagrams and tables, and supplemented by case studies drawn from the authors' work around the world. Written in a clear, easy to understand style.
12. The Executive Director's Survival Guide: Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader. Mim Carlson & Margaret Donohoe; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2002; 208 pages. An easy to read, highly rated guide for both new and seasoned busy nonprofit leaders from experienced authors who provide wise encouraging advice, specific real life examples, insight, warnings and many practical suggestions.
13. The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Management (2nd edition). Smith, Bucklin & Associates, Inc.; John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey; 2000; 374 pages. This revised and expanded edition contains dozens of examples, case studies, strategies and techniques for dealing with nonprofit management issues, including the role of the board of directors, fund development and marketing, public and government relations, educational programs, human resources management and the internet.
14. Managing a Nonprofit Organization in the Twenty-First Century. Thomas Wolf & and Barbara Carter; Free Press: New York; 1999; 368 pages. This book discusses the nuts and organizational bolts of nonprofits, including the board, the workforce, personnel policies, marketing, financial management, fund raising, planning, sustainability, and how to make things better. Problem solving diagnostic tools and checklists are provided.

*Not on list sent* - recommended by Cheryl Atwood
Taking the High Road: A Guide to Effective and Legal Employment Practices for Nonprofits (Paperback). Jennifer Chandler Hauge & Melanie L. Herman; Nonprofit Risk Management Center; 1999; 217 pages.

Return to CIL NET Wiki Resources Home Page