Questions and Answers of Nonprofit Management Principles

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders in the United States and some other countries, was founded in France in 1971 by doctors and journalists. Its purpose is to provide
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leveling thousands of homes, cutting off electricity and telephone service, killing thousands, and leaving thousands more homeless and destitute in
If you had the financial capacity to be a significant philanthropist, would you focus your giving on reducing world poverty or on addressing social problems in your own country? Explain your answer.
Should governments be the principal sources of assistance for economic development and poverty reduction, or should philanthropy play the leading role? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
Hull House was founded in Chicago in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, with the purpose of serving Chicago's immigrants and helping the city's poorest citizens improve their lives. Hull
The Corcoran Gallery of Art was established by Washington, DC, businessman William Wilson Corcoran, an early collector of contemporary American art. The gallery was opened in 1874 in a building that
Do you think that people give primarily for altruistic reasons or in order to receive benefits for themselves, including warm feelings, recognition, and social approval?Might the motivations differ
If a friend asks you to sponsor his or her participation in a charity event, such as a run or walk, do you usually give a positive response or not? Why? Would your response be different if that
In 1969, William Kling, then age 26, was managing a radio station at St. John's Abbey and University in Minnesota. He hired a young man named Garrison Keillor to host a classical music program in the
Founded in 1997 in Washington, DC, by social entrepreneurs Rajiv Vinnakota and Eric Adler, the SEED Foundation operates urban, college-preparatory, public boarding schools in Washington, DC,
Geoffrey Canada, who served as president and CEO of Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) from 1990 to 2014, is one of the country's best-known social entrepreneurs. The New York Times Magazine called
Go back and read the case of Aspire CoffeeWorks in Chapter
Is James Kales a social entrepreneur? Why or why not?
Select an organization that you know well—maybe you work there, have been a volunteer, or just follow it on Twitter. What do you think is the organization's strategy, as that term is discussed in
Like many American cities during the 1960s and 1970s, Washington, DC, experienced declining population, economic challenges, and growing social problems, as many middle-class families and businesses
Think about your most rewarding (or unrewarding) experience as a volunteer or nonprofit staff member. Which of Herzberg's satisfiers and dissatisfiers were present in the environment?
Think about the best (or worst) supervisor you have had, either as a volunteer or a nonprofit staff member. What do you think were his or her predominant needs, as described by McClelland?
Are the values and motivations of millennials really different from those of previous generations or do people become more alike as they proceed through various life stages?
In the late 19th century, more than half of all Americans lived on farms. New farming techniques, based on science, were being developed through university research, but older generations of farmers
As MADD executive director Chuck Hurley describes it, “Before the 1980s, drunk driving was how people got home. It was normal behavior.” In May of that year, Candy Lightner's 13-year-old daughter
In the early 1990s, most programs that were working to alleviate homelessness in American cities followed a similar model. Homeless men and women could visit shelters, but could not obtain permanent
Mark Zuckerberg was the first member of his generation, a millennial, to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Facebook. In 2015, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, announced that they would
In 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield made a $12,000 investment and opened an ice cream company, originally called Ben & Jerry's Homemade. Their goal was to make a profit and also pursue a social
If you were the president of an independent (nonprofit) college or university, what things would you consider in making a decision on a possible tuition increase, which might enhance your bottom line
Suppose a nonprofit organization operates a business that is related to its mission, such that revenue is not subject to the UBIT, but it competes directly with a for-profit business nearby that must
The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institution in Washington, DC, is best known for its 19 museums and 7 research centers. It is an unusual hybrid of federal government agency
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. Having been chartered by
Founded in 1901, Sweet Briar College, in Virginia, had provided higher education to generations of women by 2015. With a campus of 3,250 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, complete
Milton Hershey was the founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, which is now known as Hershey Foods, the maker of Hershey's Milk Chocolate, Hershey's Kisses, and other products with which all
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical, faith-based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness. Habitat constructs, renovates, and repairs houses with the
In 1887, Denver became the first city to establish a united organization to raise funds in order to meet community needs. Other cities adopted the idea, creating organizations that were commonly
Are leaders born or made? Can anyone learn to be a leader or does it require some innate qualities or characteristics of the individual?
Is leadership necessarily moral? Was Hitler a leader even though he was evil? Why or why not?
Who are some contemporary leaders that you would identify as charismatic? Think about individuals in the nonprofit sector, business, and government. How do they exhibit the behaviors of charismatic
When wounded veterans began arriving home from Iraq in 2003, John Melia remembered his own experience as a Marine who had been shot down off the coast of Somalia in 1992. He began visiting returning
Youth Villages was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1986 through the merger of two campuses that provided residential treatment to young people with emotional or behavioral issues. In subsequent
Define the terms “global” and “international” to explain their differences.
Thinking back on the discussion in Chapter 13 about the importance of developing a case for philanthropic support, how do you think an organization's case might need to be tailored to cultural
Nonprofit partnerships with business, discussed in Chapter 14, provide a nonprofit with earned income. Are such partnerships examples of social entrepreneurship? Why or why not?
Go back and read the case regarding the Minnesota Public Radio in Chapter 14. Was William Kling a social entrepreneur? Why or why not?
In 2014, Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist who achieved fame as an advocate for the rights of girls, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Is Malala a social entrepreneur? Why or why not?
Which of the two schools of thought, or definitions of social entrepreneurship, do you find most satisfactory? Explain.
Are social entrepreneurs born or made? In other words, can individuals be educated or trained in a way that will result in entrepreneurial behavior?
What are the differences in direct and indirect costs to a nonprofit organization? Would you want a government grant or contract that provided funds for direct or indirect costs?
If given the option, would you prefer that your nonprofit organization receive a government grant or a contract? Why?
If you were a government official, would you prefer to contract with a small community-based nonprofit organization or with a for-profit company that might have greater resources?
According to your author, what issues should nonprofit boards of directors consider when deciding to participate in a partnership with a for-profit organizations.
In your opinion, should nonprofit organizations spend their time and other resources helping for-profit organization increase their profits?
Some well-attended exhibits at art museums have included collections of automobiles, motorcycles, and photographs of rock stars. Are these appropriate subjects for exhibition in a nonprofit art
Some well-known nonprofit–corporate partnerships are listed below. In each case, what do you think is the logic behind the relationship; in other words, why does this relationship make sense? What
What are the advantages and disadvantages of holding special events as a means for soliciting gifts?
Identify and define four different types of individual motivations for giving.
If a friend asks you to sponsor his or her participation in a charity event, such as a run or walk, do you usually give a positive response or not? Why? Would your response be different if that
Some people argue that donors should receive a more generous tax deduction for gifts to organizations that serve the poor, such as homeless shelters, than they receive for gifts to institutions that
Do you think that people give primarily for altruistic reasons or in order to receive benefits for themselves, including warm feelings, recognition, and social approval? Might the motivations differ
Read “Two Approaches to Nonprofit Financial Ratios and the Implications for Managerial Incentives” by A. Eckerd.(See Articles.)What are the three expense ratios used by the Better Business
Read “Two Approaches to Nonprofit Financial Ratios and the Implications for Managerial Incentives” by A. Eckerd.(See Articles.)According to the article author, what is the relationship between
Read “Fiscal Leanness and Fiscal Responsiveness: Exploring the Normative Limits of Strategic Nonprofit Financial Management” by G. Mitchell. What did Mitchell?s study of the application of lean
Read “Fiscal Leanness and Fiscal Responsiveness:Exploring the Normative Limits of Strategic Nonprofit Financial Management” by G. Mitchell. What did the author describe as one of the most
The following items were reported in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. In each case, what types of controls that might have prevented the incident were either not in place or did not work?
Read “Tweeting Social Change:How Social Media Are Changing Nonprofit Advocacy” by Guo and Saxton.What is the authors’ three-stage pyramid model of social media-based advocacy?
Read “Tweeting Social Change:How Social Media Are Changing Nonprofit Advocacy” by Guo and Saxton.According to the authors, how do nonprofit organizations use social media to advocate for social
Read “Advocating for Policy Change in Nonprofit Coalitions” by Fyall and McGuire.(See Articles.)What did the authors’ research reveal about the relationship between coalitions and policy change?
Read “Advocating for Policy Change in Nonprofit Coalitions” by Fyall and McGuire. According to the authors, what themes are emerging in the research regarding nonprofit advocacy?
Do you think that nonprofits that receive government funds may feel inhibited from lobbying? If so, do you think such concerns are realistic or not?
Should the law be changed to permit charitable nonprofits to endorse or oppose political candidates and provide financial support to political campaigns? Why or why not?
Read “Nonprofit Collaboration with Luxury Brands: Positive and Negative Effects for Cause-Related Marketing” written by Boenigk and Schuchardt. (See Articles.) What precautions did the authors
Read “Nonprofit Collaboration with Luxury Brands: Positive and Negative Effects for Cause-Related Marketing” written by Boenigk and Schuchardt. Did the authors’ find the use of luxury brand
Read the article, “Twitter as a Communication Tool for Nonprofits: A Study of Sport-for-Development Organizations,” by Svensson, Mahoney, and Hambrick. How did the authors’ suggest that
Read the article, “Twitter as a Communication Tool for Nonprofits: A Study of Sport-for-Development Organizations,” by Svensson, Mahoney, and Hambrick. How did sport-for-development nonprofit
Identify a local nonprofit organization. What is its product/service mix?
Below is a list of some well-known nonprofit organizations and a list of attributes. Look at each nonprofit and identify up to three attributes that you would use to describe your impression of the
Read “Leadership and Volunteer Motivation: A Study Using Self-Determination Theory” by Jeannette Oostlander, StefamGimtert, Susan van Schie and Theo Wehner. Explain how the authors’ define
Read “Partnerships among Lebanese Nonprofit Organizations: Assessing the Impact on Human Resource Capacity” by KhaldounAbouAssi and Jo Suyoen. What did the authors’ research reveal about the
In your opinion, is human nature closer to McGregor's Theory X or Theory Y? Or somewhere in between?
Think about the best (or worst) supervisor you have had, either as a volunteer or a nonprofit staff member. Do you think that individual subscribed to McGregor's Theory X or Theory Y? What do you
Think about your most rewarding (or unrewarding) experience as a volunteer or nonprofit staff member. Which of Herzberg's satisfiers and dissatisfies were present in the environment?
Read the article “Hybridity and Nonprofit Organizations: The Research Agenda” by Smith. According to Smith, what are types of hybrid structures are nonprofit organizations considering in current
Read the article “Hybridity and Nonprofit Organizations: The Research Agenda” by Smith. According to Smith, what environmental factors are encouraging nonprofit organizations to consider merging?
Read the article, “Nonprofit – Public Collaborations: Understanding Governance Dynamics” by Cornforth, Hayes, and Vangen. (See Articles.) Describe what the authors have to say about the
Read the article, “Nonprofit – Public Collaborations: Understanding Governance Dynamics” by Cornforth, Hayes, and Vangen. (See Articles.)What do the authors mean by the term “collaborative
If you were a nonprofit CEO, what concerns might you have about collaborating with a local government agency?
If you were a nonprofit CEO and were approached by another nonprofit CEO about the possibility of collaborating, what are some of the first questions you might have?
In deciding whether to recognize the tax-exempt status of a new nonprofit, should the Internal Revenue Service consider whether or not it will duplicate the services of other, existing organizations
Read “The Impact of Capacity-Building Programs on Nonprofits: A Random Assignment Evaluation.” What were the results of the Impact Evaluation performed by the authors to assess capacity?
Read “The Impact of Capacity-Building Programs on Nonprofits:A Random Assignment Evaluation.” What five critical areas did the federal government’s Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) Demonstration
Read Lee, C. and Nowell. B.(2015).“A Framework for Assessing the Performance of Nonprofit Organizations.” Why do Lee and Nowell argue that commercial funding models can improve capacity?
Read Lee, C. and Nowell. B. (2015).“A Framework for Assessing the Performance of Nonprofit Organizations.” Why do the authors suggest that organizational capacity development be included in a
Select an organization that you know well—maybe you work there, have been a volunteer, or just follow it on Twitter. What do you think is the organization’s strategy, as that term is discussed in
Suppose a nonprofit organization's strategy requires that it phase out a program on which few people rely, but those people are vulnerable and no good substitute exists. How might the organization
One organization that all students will have some knowledge about is their own college or university. What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that you see facing your college
Could some or all use common indicators, or would the indicators need to be varied in light of their distinctive missions?
What metrics would you use to measure their effectiveness?
How are their missions different?
Read, “Advocating for Policy Change in Nonprofit Coalitions” by Rachel Fyall and Michael McGuire. (See Articles.) Explain how individuals from nonprofit organizations attempt to influence public
Read “Founding New Nonprofit Organizations: Syndrome or Symptom?” written by Joanne Carmen and Rebecca Nesbit. (See Articles.) Why do founders tend to find new nonprofit organizations that
Read “Founding New Nonprofit Organizations: Syndrome or Symptom?” written by Joanne Carmen and Rebecca Nesbit. (See Articles.) According to Carmen and Nesbit, what leadership strengths are
Read “Founding New Nonprofit Organizations: Syndrome or Symptom?” written by Joanne Carmen and Rebecca Nesbit. (See Articles.) What theoretical perspectives may influence individuals to found new
Read “Alternative Organizing and (In) Visibility: Managing Tensions of Transparency and Autonomy in a Nonprofit Organization” by Peter Jensen and Rebecca Meisenbach. According to Jensen and
Read “Alternative Organizing and (In)Visibility: Managing Tensions of Transparency and Autonomy in a Nonprofit Organization” by Peter Jensen and Rebecca Meisenbach. Why do some nonprofit

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