May 13, 2004 | Read Time: 1 minute
Why Nonprofits Fail: Overcoming Founder’s Syndrome, Fundphobia, and Other Obstacles to Success
by Stephen R. Block
When nonprofit groups face problems and conventional solutions are no longer working, it’s time to take a new tack, writes Stephen R. Block, executive director of Denver Options, an organization that coordinates services for people with developmental disabilities.
In his book, Mr. Block presents case studies of charities confronting various challenges. He describes the initial, unsuccessful efforts of organizations to solve their problems, and discusses where the groups went wrong and what they can do right. For example, one chapter discusses a nonprofit manager who was frustrated that board members were leaving meetings early and otherwise shirking their responsibilities. Mr. Block says the manager had unrealistic expectations because the board members had not been made aware of their duties. Mr. Block suggested that, in addition to ensuring future board members better understand what is expected of them, the board make its meetings last only as long as all members could be present. This change, he says, helped board members realize their obligations and made interruptions to meetings less likely.
Other sections of the book offer advice for nonprofit groups that are struggling because of board members who are reluctant to participate in fund raising, employees who are more concerned with advancing their careers than with their charity’s mission, staff and board members who avoid their financial-management responsibilities, and staffs that experience high turnover rates.
Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 989 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94103-1741; (317) 572-3986 or (800) 956-7739; fax (317) 572-4002; http://www.josseybass.com; 208 pages; $27.95; I.S.B.N. 0-7879-6409-3.
