If You Build It – Then You Have To Read It. The First Shelf.

If You Build It – Then You Have To Read It. The First Shelf.

What is it you are building? This issue and others from time to time will feature books and web sites to place in your nonprofit library. That is what you are building, a library, a nonprofit library. What I offer are examples of the some of the best books and web sites available.

You may not need them all but they will give you the start for your library.

I ask readers to consider adding any books or web sites to that day’s listing to supplement what I am suggesting.

The first shelf is a list of paper books to consider for your library, no web sites, but there are links to the books. The links to the books listed below are either to book reviews at CharityChannel or Amazon. I have no business relationship with Amazon; they are simply convenient. I am a virtual volunteer at CharityChannel.

It is my intent on this first shelf to feature material that can be helpful to you if you are:

1. Thinking about creating or incorporating a nonprofit organization
   
2. You have incorporated and are now planning to file with the IRS for recognition as a tax exempt organization
   
3. You have incorporated and are recognized as a tax exempt organization and looking for assistance for the first two-three years. That is not to say these books have no value after that. They do. But they have a special emphasis for the beginning years. And they can serve as reminders as your group grows – or stagnates.

Book Shelf 1 – The Beginning:

ABC's of Nonprofits
By Lisa A. Runquist
American Bar Association (2005)

How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation (book w/ CD-Rom)
By Anthony Mancuso
Nolo Press

Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide
By Bruce R. Hopkins
Wiley, 4th Edition

Complete Guide to Nonprofit Management, Second Edition
By Smith, Bucklin, and Associates, Inc.
Wiley; 2d edition

Nonprofit Law Made Easy
By Bruce R. Hopkins
Wiley

The Ultimate Board Member's Book: A 1-Hour Guide to Understanding and Fulfilling Your Role and Responsibilities
By Kay Sprinkel Grace
Emerson & Church,

Breakthrough Thinking for Nonprofit Organizations: Creative Strategies for Extraordinary Results
By Bernard Ross, Clare Segal
Jossey-Bass; 1st edition

The Leadership Challenge, 3rd Edition (There is also a Workbook for it)
By James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posnerb
John Wiley and Sons (2002)

Streetsmart Financial Basics for Nonprofit Managers, Second Edition (with CD-Rom)
By Thomas A. McLaughlin
Wiley; 2nd edition (2002)

The Cash Flow Management Book for Nonprofits: A Step-By Step Guide for Managers, Consultants, and Boards
By Murray Dropkin and Allyson Hayden
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2001)

Nonprofit Organization Management: Forms, Checklists & Guidelines (Unfortunately out of print but your local library or college library may have a copy. At Amazon, click on the link for reading it on "Kindle". Maybe it will appear there.)
By Jamie Whaley, Managing Editor, Jeff Stratton, Research Editor
Aspen Publishers,

You will not find the following topics in this first shelf, although the topics are alluded to: Marketing, Grantwriting, Strategic Planning, Fundraising, Branding, Internet Strategies, Staffing, Long-range Board Development, Enterprise Development, Risk Management, Advocacy, Planned Giving, Evaluating, Faith-based/Church Issues, Community Organizing, Capital Campaigns, Human Resources, and other topics. They will be discussed as we go along.

Good reading ahead.