Why Nonprofits Fail : Overcoming Founder's Syndrome, Fundphobia and Other Obstacles to Success

by Block, Stephen R.

• ISBN13: 9780787964092
• ISBN10: 0787964093
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-12-25
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

In Why Nonprofits Fail, author and nonprofit expert Stephen Block explains that many well-intentioned leaders hold on to views of their nonprofit organizations that perpetuate problems rather than help fix them. According to Block, the first step to success is to challenge one's own personal paradigms and ideas and be open to unique and alternative approaches to solving problems. This much-needed book helps nonprofits get back on track and offers advice about the seven most common stumbling blocks, including: Founder's syndrome Fundphobia Financial misfortune Recruitment disorientation Cultural depression in nonprofit organizations Self-serving political performance Role confusion between the board and executive director

Author Biography

<b>Stephen R. Block</b> is the founding executive director of Denver Options, Inc., a nonprofit organization that manages the developmental disabilities service delivery system of care in Denver. He is the director of the Nonprofit Management Program at the University of Colorado at Denver&#8217;s Graduate School of Public Affairs. Block was a consulting editor for the <i>Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly</i> and on the editorial board of the <i>Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation</i>.

Table of Contents

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

The Author.

Part I: Charting a New Path to Success.

1. Preventing Failure, Ensuring Success.

2. The Need for Alternative Tools.

3. The Framework and the Steps.

4. First-Order and Second-Order Approaches to Change.

Part II: Seven Tough Problems and How to Solve Them.

5. Recruitment Disorientation.

6. Cultural Depression in Nonprofit Organizations.

7. Political Performance.

8. Role Confusion.

9. Financial Misfortune.

10. Fundphobia.

11. Founder’s Syndrome.

Conclusion: Managing Nonprofit Organizational Change.

Resource A: A Review of Organizational Behavior Theories.

Resource B: Recommended Reading.

References.

Index.