Management Skills For The Non-Profit

11 Pages 2648 Words

the benefit and use of the above-mentioned persons. In contrast, the primary goal of a typical nonprofit organization is to increase the welfare and well being of the community vs. increasing the financial well being of the individual. This goal is sought after in a manner that is for the most part non-commercial in nature. The fact that these two entities have such differing goals in regard to profit raises a key question. Is the ethos of the nonprofit organization promoting community service rather than individual wealth compatible with the often times aggressive and stringent business principles and strategies utilized in the for profit world? The answer to this intriguing question lies in coming to understand the particular mission of any given not-for-profit entity, being committed to furthering said mission, and in accepting that the nonprofit is primarily a vehicle for advancing that particular mission, not a means of providing wealth. It must also be understood that the nonprofit is at the same time an economic institution, and therefore, it must be managed. The running and managing of any organization is costly, and a not-for-profit is no different, it will require revenue to be raised, which is then prudently and wisely allocated. It is strongly emphasized that the nonprofit sector needs to be every bit as fiscally disciplined as their counterparts in the for profit world (Cosier & Dalton, 1993). It should also be recognized that nonprofits, just like for profits have to deal with huge amounts of information. Everything from mailing lists to tracking and reporting on grants, donations, and fund raisers, in addition to keeping accurate financial records. It stands to reason that the tools and skills utilized by the leaders of for profit business to achieve cost effective productivity, are the same ones that are needed by nonprofit leaders. Having said this, it follows that computers and their applications should, an...