A much-needed overhaul plan for the nonprofit model . . . O’Brien and Craig encourage pushing for greater transparency in reporting of spending and overhead; cultivating trust with donors by identifying major issues early on, rather than avoiding problems until they become unavoidable; and overcoming a view common among nonprofit boards of debt as “anathema to good fiscal stewardship” and instead guiding them toward seeing credit as a valuable tool. Any nonprofit leader thinking that there must be a better way will find persuasive answers here.

Publishers Weekly

Building Smart Nonprofits includes examples of nonprofits deploying best practices and emerging industry trends to position their organizations for the long term . . . The authors make the point that it is extremely important to develop a financial plan that is not dependent on a single source or type of funding. In fact they say that all well-run non-profits exhibit similar characteristics: diverse revenue streams, strong financial management, personal relationships and storytelling, and quality leadership.

Blue Heron Journal

Whether you are a board member of a nonprofit, work for a foundation, or involved in running a nonprofit organization, Building Smart Nonprofits is a must read. The authors skillfully cover the core fundamentals of nonprofits, supplemented by keen insights on major trends affecting the sector. The book is rich with best in class examples and thought provoking suggestions for improving the governance, funding and operations of nonprofits. I can't wait to explore several new ideas with the organizations I currently serve.

Bruce Hoyt, director, IndieDwell Colorado, former Senior Vice President, Gary Community Investments

In Building Smart Nonprofits, David O’Brien and Matthew Craig share decades of experience and insights into nonprofit leadership. By bringing together interviews with more than 60 industry leaders, they have created an impressive compendium of best practices for the nonprofit world. This book is a must-read for nonprofit executives, foundation heads, board chairs and philanthropists.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and National Director, Anti-Defamation League

O’Brien and Craig provide a practical set of pathways to reach one of the most elusive goals for any nonprofit organization: financial sustainability. In an accessible and engaging style, drawing on the work of many nonprofit organizations and their talented leaders, they unpack the elements that contribute to financial sustainability. Theirs will be an important contribution to the growing literature on the nonprofit sector.

Jim Canales, President and Trustee, Barr Foundation

Effective leadership is just as important in the nonprofit world as it is in the for-profit world. O’Brien and Craig show how good leadership can help build sustainable funding models, and why good boards are paramount to a fully functioning nonprofit organization. No nonprofit and no philanthropist should be without a copy of Building Smart Nonprofits.

Ali R. Malekzadeh, PhD, President, Roosevelt University