Exposing the Elephants: Creating Exceptional Nonprofits - Hardcover

Wilcox, Pamela J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0471792217 ISBN 13: 9780471792215

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2006

Synopsis

Go Beyond "Business As Usual" with Your Nonprofit "At last--the 'real truth' about nonprofit management! In Exposing the Elephants, Wilcox reveals the 'pesky pachyderms' that block our way to full effectiveness. How often have we grumbled that 'just because you're a [insert profession here], it doesn't mean you know how to run a nonprofit'? With clarity, passion, and sly humor, Wilcox validates that perspective and many others--but doesn't let us get away with just accepting the presence of the elephant in the room. Wilcox summarizes complex issues using recognizable examples and then offers sensible strategies for resolving them. Ultimately, she gives us permission to do the right thing(s). I love this book--and I can't wait to start implementing the 'elephant solutions'! " --Nancy Perkin Beaumont, CAE, Executive Director, Society of American Archivists "Before I finished reading Exposing the Elephants, I met with my key staff to talk about what we must change. I also shared what I learned from reading the book with a friend who sits on several different types of boards. Wilcox says it like it is--and it needs to be said--in every nonprofit organization." --Julie Donovan, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity, Lake County, Illinois "A remarkably candid, fresh, and witty analysis of the challenges inherent in managing nonprofits. Insightful and pragmatic solutions to overcoming the 'white elephants' so prevalent in the nonprofit culture. A 'must read' for every nonprofit CEO and board member." --Dick Yingst, President & CEO, Financial Managers Society, Chicago, Illinois "Pam Wilcox is willing to say the things that nonprofit professionals often do not wish to hear. She reveals through clear language and flowing style the significant barriers that nonprofits face and need to remove for not just success but also excellence. Unlike many authors who point out what is wrong with nonprofits, Wilcox shows us the way to tackle our most intractable issues and move to excellence. This book should be read by any and everyone involved in the nonprofit sector." --Katrina S. Rogers, PhD, Associate Dean, Research and Practice Director, Center for Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector, Fielding Graduate University

About this title

About the Author

PAMELA J. WILCOX is founder and President of SAVe-Staff and Volunteer Excellence-an organization whose purpose is to devise new ways of thinking about nonprofit leadership, and is dedicated to advising and helping leadership teams across all nonprofit sectors. With over twenty years of executive and nonprofit leadership experience, Wilcox has inspired boards and staff to exceptional performance. She and her husband, Robert, live in Chicago.

From the Back Cover

Go Beyond "Business As Usual" with Your Nonprofit

"At last?the 'real truth' about nonprofit management! In Exposing the Elephants, Wilcox reveals the 'pesky pachyderms' that block our way to full effectiveness. How often have we grumbled that 'just because you're a [insert profession here], it doesn't mean you know how to run a nonprofit'? With clarity, passion, and sly humor, Wilcox validates that perspective and many others?but doesn't let us get away with just accepting the presence of the elephant in the room. Wilcox summarizes complex issues using recognizable examples and then offers sensible strategies for resolving them. Ultimately, she gives us permission to do the right thing(s). I love this book?and I can't wait to start implementing the 'elephant solutions'! "
?Nancy Perkin Beaumont, CAE, Executive Director, Society of American Archivists

"Before I finished reading Exposing the Elephants, I met with my key staff to talk about what we must change. I also shared what I learned from reading the book with a friend who sits on several different types of boards. Wilcox says it like it is?and it needs to be said?in every nonprofit organization."
?Julie Donovan, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity, Lake County, Illinois

"A remarkably candid, fresh, and witty analysis of the challenges inherent in managing nonprofits. Insightful and pragmatic solutions to overcoming the 'white elephants' so prevalent in the nonprofit culture. A 'must read' for every nonprofit CEO and board member."
?Dick Yingst, President & CEO, Financial Managers Society, Chicago, Illinois

"Pam Wilcox is willing to say the things that nonprofit professionals often do not wish to hear. She reveals through clear language and flowing style the significant barriers that nonprofits face and need to remove for not just success but also excellence. Unlike many authors who point out what is wrong with nonprofits, Wilcox shows us the way to tackle our most intractable issues and move to excellence. This book should be read by any and everyone involved in the nonprofit sector."
?Katrina S. Rogers, PhD, Associate Dean, Research and Practice Director, Center for Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector, Fielding Graduate University

From the Inside Flap

Providing an insider's look into the need for change, Exposing the Elephants: Creating Exceptional Nonprofits gives an eye-opening assessment of the state of the nonprofit sector today, as well as practical and useful recommendations for real change from within.

Written by nonprofit authority Pamela Wilcox, Exposing the Elephants is straightforward in tone and brims with optimism for the future of the nonprofit industry. This stirring guide confronts the brutal facts of daily existence in the nonprofit setting, and equips you with a new and pragmatic framework to propel your organization to embrace innovation, new venture risk, and lasting mission achievements.

Required reading for nonprofit managers, board members, and volunteers, Exposing the Elephants takes an honest look at the fundamental obstacles facing the nonprofit sector, with topics including:

• The Wide Reach of Nonprofits
• The Role of Nonprofits
• Myths That Surround Nonprofits
• Rating Nonprofit Performance
• The Five Elephants of the Nonprofit Industry
• "Live Lessons" and "At the Salt Mines"mini- dramas demonstrating the challenging situations that arise within a nonprofitand the tools and techniques to bring about real change

Divided into three parts, Part I of Exposing the Elephants introduces the nonprofit industry and explores the public perception of nonprofits. Part II tackles the "what" and "why" of the five nonprofit "elephants," with each elephant representing an uncomfortable truth that volunteer and staff leaders recognize, but refuse to acknowledge. Finally, Part III explores the revolutionary ideas and practiceselephant solutionsthat can tame and transform unruly pachyderms into well-behaved friends. Successful tools and techniques are sprinkled throughout the chapters.

Holding old mindsets and dogmas up to the light of day, this insightful book uniquely shows you how to get your nonprofit to go beyond "business as usual" with practical, workable solutions harvested from openly examining cultural standards and organizational performance in a fresh new perspective. Exposing the Elephants will reignite your vision and passion for your nonprofit, taking it from "stuck" to exceptional.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0471792217
• ISBN 13: 9780471792215
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336