The Executive Director's Guide to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader

Praise for the Second Edition of The Executive Director's Guide to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader"This book is a gift for nonprofit leaders in all stages of their careers. With clarity and profound simplicity, it dissects the otherwise overwhelming role of the nonprofit executive director into understandable components that can then be made workable (and even fulfilling!). It is a highly readable and practical road map for success."-Molly Polidoroff, executive director, Center for Excellence in Nonprofits"The Executive Director's Guide to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader not only clearly and concisely identifies the most critical issues of nonprofit leadership, but it also provides the resources and answers to those challenges. It will be required reading for both the most seasoned executive as well as the emerging leader."-Bill Coy, director of leadership practice, La Piana Consulting"I provide The Executive Director's Guide to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader to all new executive directors placed by my firm. They find it to be a great resource during their orientation to a new organization, new people, and new challenges, and it continues to be a support as issues come up in their work over the years. It's comprehensive and sensible, and the authors' great knowledge and respect for nonprofit executives shine through."-Susan Egmont, consultant, Egmont AssociatesPraise for the Previous Edition"How would I describe this book? Practical. Helpful. Encouraging. Realistic. Thought-provoking. Accessible. Focused. Honest. Refreshing. It should be on every nonprofit leader's desk."-Barry Z. Posner, former dean and professor of leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, and coauthor, The Leadership Challenge"In this new age of nonprofit management, executive directors are getting over their fantasies and past their fears, crafting change-the-world ideas and executing them every day. Mim and Margaret now provide real-life, real-time help in coaching and guiding executive directors from survival to success. I can't think of a more important contribution in today's drive to strengthen the sector."-Roni Posner, former executive director, The Alliance for Nonprofit Management

Mim Carlson is the former executive director of the Berkeley–East Bay Humane Society and is currently interim executive director at Florence Crittenton Services (www.linkedin.com/companies/florence-crittenton-services). With over twenty-five years of experience as a manager and grantwriter, Carlson has trained and consulted nationally and is a former faculty member at the University of San Francisco and California State University, Hayward.

Margaret Donohoe is a nonprofit consultant who focuses her experience, insight, and energy on helping a new generation of nonprofit leaders navigate the many opportunities and challenges of this career choice. She has more than twenty-five years' experience in the sector as an executive director, interim director for organizations in transition, and community board member.