Making a Difference: The Management and Governance of Nonprofit Enterprises

Making a Difference: The Management and Governance of Nonprofit Enterprises written to guide nonprofit leaders
Today's unprecedented and challenging business climate is forcing professional and volunteer leaders of nonprofit enterprises to improve skill sets to continue their mission-driven work. Many leaders would benefit from baseline explanations on topics including governance, committees, planning and strategy, human resources, succession and transition management, and public trust, and would enjoy access to adaptable templates that will improve odds of organizational survival.
Howard Berman, after years as the lead staff member of a multibillion-dollar nonprofit health insurer and also an active volunteer for other nonprofits, provides tools, templates and training materials in Making a Difference: The Management and Governance of Nonprofit Enterprises (2010).

"Nonprofit enterprises are extraordinary organizations, accomplishing both what business will not do and what society does not want government to do," Berman said. "They are organizations created for purposes other than profits. To manage these enterprises well is a challenge worthy of society's best and brightest leaders."

Making a Difference provides a working guidebook to both students and nonprofit leaders, to successfully manage and govern nonprofit enterprises. It is written as a text for students in nonprofit management certificate or degree programs, and is also a practical resource guide for management and board leaders who must direct their organizations in today's environment.

Berman's book includes 140 pages of appendices that show the reader how to manage meeting, hire staff, fundraise and those documents are available to anyone who owns a copy of the book by e-mailing ccepublications@gmail.com .

Making a Difference has been written to help those who have the opportunity to lead and govern nonprofit enterprises both today and in the future to make a difference, Berman said.

Making a Difference Table of Contents
Part I - Foundation
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Meeting Community Needs: Managing Nonprofit Enterprises
Chapter 3: The Community Sector
Chapter 4: The Corporation
Part II - Governance
Chapter 5: Governance
Chapter 6: Board Structure
Chapter 7: Board Committees
Chapter 8: Board Leadership
Part III - Management: Planning and Execution
Chapter 9: Planning and Strategy
Chapter 10: Operational Planning
Chapter 11: Implementation and Oversight
Part IV - Management and Governance Challenges
Chapter 12: Capital Formation
Chapter 13: Human Resources: Volunteers and Paid Staff
Chapter 14: Succession Management
Chapter 15: Transition Management
Chapter 16: The Public's Trust

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Howard J. Berman is the Chairman of The Center for Community Engagement at St. John Fisher College. In April 2003 he retired as CEO of Lifetime Healthcare Companies, the parent company of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a position he held since 1985. Berman is the author of A Great Board: Building and Enhancing Nonprofit Boards (Health Research & Educational Trust, 2003) and co-author with Lewis E. Weeks of Shapers of American Health Care Policy: An Oral History (Health Administration Press, 1985) and Financial Management of Hospitals (Health Administration Press, eight editions, 1972-95). He has chaired, served on and reported to numerous boards.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER: CCE Publications is a new project of the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence. CCE Publications and its website (ccepublications.org) were created to facilitate production and dissemination of content tied to practical thoughts on nonprofit management and governance topics. Future intentions are to embellish the website to serve as a clearing house or public square for such discussions. Proceeds from purchases through CCE Publications are used to support the efforts of the Partnership.