The Nonprofit Problem Solver

Book excerpt: A practical, hands-on manual for managers and executives of nonprofit organizations, The Nonprofit Problem Solver provides comprehensive coverage of every aspect of the nonprofit management function. The author, who has direct management experience in a number of nonprofit settings as well as extensive consulting experience, explains in clear and practicable terms what is involved in each of the particular functions. What makes the book especially valuable is its unique focus on the kinds of typical and recurrent problems that tend to arise specifically in nonprofit organizations. Lord examines each of these problems in detail, telling the reader what to watch for, what to expect, and how to avoid the problems--or if unavoidable how to deal with them successfully. The Nonprofit Problem Solver takes a potentially intimidating field and brings it into direct relevance to the daily life of nonprofit managers. Written in an easy to read how-to style, the book begins with a chapter designed to help managers identify their own organizations' needs. Subsequent chapters address key issues that nonprofit managers must deal with on a day-to-day basis such as: how to generate a positive cash flow; surviving an audit; how to borrow and how to finance capital acquisitions; putting together an in-house accounting manual; establishing and writing personnel policies; accounting and budget controls; compensation and compensation policies; managing the physical plant. The emphasis throughout is on management methods that can be easily and effectively implemented to produce a professionally run, smoothly operating organization. Both current managers and students in nonprofit management programs will find The Nonprofit Problem Solver an indispensable and frequently consulted reference source.