An Executive Director Shares Leadership and Management Tips

Do you need some guidance on running your nonprofit organization and would like to learn from someone who has “seen it all”? John Bateson, the Executive Director of the Contra Costa Crisis Center in Walnut Creek, California has written a book that provides stories and lessons learned from his 27 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.

Chapters cover several topics including board development, program development, fundraising, volunteers, marketing, strategic planning, major gifts, financial management, and advocacy. Here are some highlights from Building Hope: Leadership in the Nonprofit World (Praeger Publishers):

“Before writing a proposal, I always contact the foundation. I want verbal feedback on our project prior to submitting anything in writing.” (p. 98)

“One of the ironies of nonprofit work is that agencies with government funding depend on it and agencies without it don’t want it.” (p. 102)

“The accepted rule of thumb is that an agency should have, at a minimum, reserves totaling three to six months of its operating budget, and preferably a year’s worth." (p. 168)

Search the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature for more readings on nonprofit management.