An Essential Resource for Nonprofit Beginners

Are you new(ish) to the nonprofit world?

Do you ever wish there was a comprehensive guide to nonprofit organizations that covered the basics?

Do you need a place to turn when you have a quick question about fundraising, leadership or management?

The Best Book for Nonprofit Beginners

Although I wouldn’t call it the “bible” for beginning nonprofit professionals, the book I’m about to mention is pretty darn close…

You and Your Nonprofit: Practical Advice and Tips from the CharityChannel Professional Community

This 400 plus page tome is a collection of short articles by over 40 experts in the field, on a wide variety of topics related to nonprofits today. It’s targeted for beginners in the field – those who have been in for 10 years or less. Articles cover the basics and will get you off to a great start, as well as answering the many burning questions you have.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m happy to report that I have two of my own articles in this special book and I receive a small commission on sales made through this post. But I wouldn’t promote it if I didn’t think it was a super-valuable resource.

Topics range from board management, to volunteer recruitment, to program evaluation, to cultivating big gifts, to online fundraising and social media. I would not recommend reading the book from cover to cover, but keeping it on your shelf as a reference for anytime a question comes up or you have a few minutes to spare.

Some of my favorite articles include:

• All “A” Board, by Heather Burton
  In this piece, Heather explores the different life cycles of organizations and the different role of the board in each cycle. She also talks about how to recruit board members and identifying the right roles for them, so they bring their “A” game to the table.
• Board Member Absenteeism: Four Causes and Five Things You Can Do About It, by Nathan Garber
  Need I say more?
• Six Secrets to Volunteer Recruitment, by Lisa Kay Schweyer
  My favorite tip from Lisa is number five: ACT! The shorter the time between when someone first inquires about volunteering and the actual opportunity to do so, the more likely they are to be a great, long lasting volunteer.
• Program Evaluation Made Easy, by Jana Braswell
  Have you ever wondered how to measure things that seem immeasurable? If so, this article is a must read.
• Cultivating Big Gifts from First-Time Donors, by Margaret Guellich, CFRE
  In this article, Margaret says, “When a first time donor comes on board, treat them with care. Remember how much it cost to acquire them and that you need to get three gifts before they begin to make a serious commitment to your organization.”
• Intro to Online Fundraising and Social Media, by Ted Hart, ACFRE
  The article provides Ted’s six criteria for measuring effectiveness online and so much more!

To read these amazing articles and so many more, click here.

Let me know in the comments whether or not you found this summary helpful. What are other great nonprofit books you recommend? Let me know!