Nonprofit governance is like sports officiating. Umpires and referees don’t play the game. They manage the game. That's what governance does for a nonprofit organization. People assigned to governance oversee how the organization is managed and work to make the entire business as effective as possible. Governance for Nonprofits itemizes the duties of governance, explains what a nonprofit organization needs to successfully accomplish its Mission Statement and provides the road map to an ongoing, smoothly operating, profitable, not-for-profit organization. Governance for Nonprofits is a basic tool that should be in the arsenal of every person that sits on a board of directors and every member of a nonprofit staff that deals with the challenges of making a not-for-profit organization successful. That’s because the book: * Explains the duties of board members and board officers * Shows how to be an effective member of a board of directors * Examines the purpose and limitations of board of directors * Looks at the role of the board in major decision making * Explains fund-raising from a management perspective * Walks the reader through the major steps of becoming a nonprofit * Offers real-life samples of important nonprofit documents * Includes an introduction to IRS reporting Form 990 * Explains the elements and importance of bylaws * Illustrates the differences between managing a small, medium or large nonprofit * Explains various types of nonprofit boards of directors * Discusses the role and value of committees * Looks at the impact of ethics in nonprofit operations * Explains how to analyze the effectiveness of a board of directors * Makes suggestions regarding term-limits * Demonstrates the importance of succession planning * Examines the tools available to help make a board of directors function at a high level of competence * And a whole lot more. WORDS OF PRAISE A sorely needed book for nonprofit organizations. It covers every aspect of either forming or participating in a nonprofit. This is a must read because it is not only a guide but also a reference for all thinking about forming or operating a nonprofit. --Lt. Col Robert S. Slater (Ret.) US Air Force; President, Community Development District 1, Collier County, Florida This is a great resource for senior non-profit managers and board members who are searching for the details of nonprofit governance. --Don R. Pember, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, School of Communications, University of Washington and author of Mass Media Law, Mass Media in America, Privacy and the Press This book tackles governance and makes this dry subject actually interesting! No matter what the size of the community, or what community a nonprofit serves, this book focuses on every aspect of nonprofit operation! --Donna Fiala, County Commissioner , Collier County, Florida (Ret.) Columnist, Civic Activist Extremely well organized as a guide or quick reference. I highly recommend this clear and easily read manual to anyone involved in any way with a nonprofit organization. --Michael S. Walker, Ph.D. Physicist and author of Quantum Fuzz Ted DeGroot shares his extensive knowledge and expertise in this comprehensive guide to governance for nonprofit organizations. The many examples and analogies help the reader absorb this complex subject by putting the information into context. It's a must-read for Board members and nonprofit executives who want to understand nonprofit governance in depth and bring their nonprofit organizations to new heights of success. --Sheryl Soukup CFRE, President, Soukup Strategic Solutions: Expertise in Fundraising and Nonprofit Management