Publications

01 Oct 2001
Research & Ideas

Connecting With Nonprofits

and cause-related marketing. This excerpt focuses on the collaborative stages.Collaborations between businesses and nonprofit organizations are becoming more prevalent, important, and complicated. Marketing plays an increasingly... View Details

Keywords: by James Austin

27 Oct 2008
Lessons from the Classroom

Achieving Excellence in Nonprofits

words, the organization has as its main purpose the advancement of a set of social goals and the creation of social value. That obviously (by law!) includes nonprofit organizations, but it can also include the so-called new social... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

Teaching Interest

Governing for Nonprofit Excellence

By: John Jong-Hyun Kim

Nonprofit organizations require strong, innovative leadership. In this unique HBS Social Enterprise Initiative program, participants gain an in-depth look at four core nonprofit governance competencies: board leadership, strategic stewardship, performance measurement,... View Details

24 Mar 2022
Video

OnBoard: Nonprofit Leadership Transitions

Web

Social Enterprise & Nonprofits Programs

March 2014 (Revised October 2015)
Case

Teach For China and the Chinese Nonprofit Sector

By: William C. Kirby and Erica M. Zendell

Teach For China was founded in 2008 with the mission of expanding educational opportunity across China. By 2013, Andrea Pasinetti's lofty dream had taken flight: over 300 graduates from top American and Chinese universities were participating in its 2-year teaching... View Details

Keywords: Nonprofit; China; Business And Government Relations; Business And Poverty; Business And Society; Emerging Market Entrepreneurship; Emerging Market; NGO; Education; Entrepreneurship; Social Enterprise; Emerging Markets; Non-Governmental Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; Education Industry; China

November 2024
Background Note

Nonprofit Governance: Some Basics

By: Lynn S. Paine and Will Hurwitz

This background note discusses basics about the prevalence, purpose, and unique legal, governance and regulatory dynamics of nonprofits and their boards of directors. The note describes both similarities and differences between for-profit and non-profit governance,... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Governance; Leadership; Mission and Purpose; Nonprofit Organizations; United States

Video

Introduction to Nonprofit Board Service

Research Summary

Nonprofits and the Net

By: James E. Austin

This research examined the strategic use of the internet by existing nonprofit organizations and the creation of new internet based organizations that are operating in the social sector, particularly in the philanthropic segment. Resulting publications: 'The... View Details

Dec 21 2011
Interview

Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management

August 1998 (Revised March 2002)
Background Note

Overview of the Nonprofit Sector

By: James E. Austin and Elaine V. Backman

Provides brief background information to aid in understanding the U.S. and international nonprofit sectors. View Details

Keywords: Nonprofit Organizations

January 1991 (Revised September 1992)
Background Note

Note on Starting a Nonprofit Venture

Provides anyone considering starting a nonprofit organization with a basic understanding of the nature of nonprofit status, tax and regulatory issues for nonprofits, and the distinctive management challenges associated with a nonprofit start-up. View Details

Keywords: Nonprofit Organizations; Entrepreneurship

11 Mar 2010
Working Paper Summaries

The Many Faces of Nonprofit Accountability

Keywords: by Alnoor Ebrahim

09 Jun 2003
Research & Ideas

The Challenge of the Multi-site Nonprofit

Why is it more difficult for nonprofit organizations than, say, retail chains, to run efficient multi-site operations? A recent Harvard Business Review story concluded that nonprofits waste $100 billion a... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

18 Sep 2000
Research & Ideas

Getting It Done: Improving Nonprofit Performance

For many years, Americans have shown their generosity to myriad nonprofit organizations. And 1999 was no exception, as charitable giving in this country reached a record high of just over $190 billion. At the same time, however, there is... View Details

Keywords: by James E. Aisner

Article

Managing Multi-Site Nonprofits

By: Allen Grossman and V. Kasturi Rangan

Keywords: Nonprofit Organizations; Management

Find at Harvard

August 2008 (Revised June 2013)
Background Note

Note on the Nonprofit Coherence Framework

By: Allen S. Grossman and Stacey Childress

This note presents the Nonprofit Coherence Framework. It helps nonprofit leaders identify the key elements that support an organizational strategy focused on attaining high performance, bring those elements into a coherent relationship with the strategy and each other,... View Details

Keywords: Management Practices and Processes; Organizational Culture; Organizational Structure; Performance Improvement; Nonprofit Organizations; Corporate Strategy

2010
Working Paper

The Many Faces of Nonprofit Accountability

By: Alnoor Ebrahim

What does it mean for a nonprofit organization to be accountable? Nonprofit leaders tend to pay attention to accountability once a problem of trust arises—a scandal in the sector or in their own organization, questions from citizens or donors who want to know if their... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Accountability; Corporate Disclosure; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Leadership; Mission and Purpose; Performance Evaluation; Nonprofit Organizations; Business Strategy