Customer Reviews

501(c) Blues: Staying Sane in the Nonprofit Game

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David Jenkins applies his experience from years of working with non-profit organizations to this smart and entertaining book. Jenkins is not afraid to burn some bridges. His observations and stories, along with many anonymously-attributed comments and anecdotes, make for lively and often irreverent reading. At the heart of the book, however, is Jenkins' passion for his subject: his intense frustration at what he and others have often experienced with non-profits, and his sensible, clear-eyed thoughts on how to make things better.

Having been involved with many, many non profit boards across many different levels of our society for over 30 years, both in Europe and America, I can honestly say that David Jenkin's book is a wake up scream to the non-profit industry - use the 501(c)to achieve something positive. My experience is that 501(c) organizations absolutely waste the diminishing resources and community spirit currently available in these financially challenged times. Community spirit and precious volunteer hours are just being flushed away by egocentric and self-seeking board members who generally have no common sense or experience in running a non-profit enterprise.

This book should be compulsory reading for every 501(c) start up member - and all board members should have to prove annually that they do not come close to matching the accurately drawn prototypical profiles that David has so successfully described.

The 501(c) industry is sinking fast - it is time for the rules of board members to be changed - every board member should have to demonstrate an unequivocal knowledge of the business and to accept the liabilities and to accept public examination in the event of failure - put all non-profits on the same stage that Enron, WorldCom and Tyco have found themselves.

If the status quo remains, the rank and file members of these organizations may just rebel against the uneducated and damaging decisions of the board. Leave the decisions to the paid professionals, and let success be the result.

David Jenkin's book should be the flag that leads to evolution, otherwise non-profit heads will roll through revolution.

This book accurately and cleverly captures both the great problems that exist in the world of non-profit management and the unbelieveably simple solutions to those problems. It also articulated clearly and humorously why those simple solutions are so elusive to those who volunteer to "lead" non-profits. This really is a MUST READ text for both the long suffering professionals who make their living guiding the companies that provide such essential services for our communities and those who agree to volunteer as trustees. This sacred trust demands much from each category of servant and Jenkins' book is an invaluable and easily read handbook for both. If you see yourself in his words and the quotes from his contributors then learn from what he tells you. This ought to be subtitled "Know when to hold them and when to fold them."

Entertaining, enlightening,funny and honest, this is a gloves-off look at how nonprofit boards REALLY operate. Anyone who has sat on either side of the nonprofit table will recognize some very familiar scenarios and characters. I highly recommend it as cheap therapy for those nonprofit participants who are close to running for the hills. Full of humor and incredible stories from the front, it's also very cleverly written and fun to read.

This new book on the dysfunctional nature of many non-profit organizations really hits a nerve. It's painfully obvious that the writer has, indeed, been there and done that. As a reader who has also spent a number of years serving in the non-profit sector, I was mesmerized by the insights ( I read it in less than 24 hours) and reassured by many of the contributors.
Rather than being one of those, "I had a bad experience and I'm going to blast the industry" kind of books, 501(c)blues paints a realistic picture of life working in this environment, shows both the good and the bad, and, instead of leaving you standing on the 8th floor ledge of your office, gives you sound advice and hope that things can be better. The writer's method of incorporating many quotes from executives in different types of organizations makes the writing more real and balanced.
Hats off to Mr. Jenkins for being willing to speak for the rest of us out there in non-profitland.

This is a great book for anybody helping with non-profits in any way, not just directors. Non-profits are providing a public service and ultimately we, the public, are at the top of the organizational chart, we're the boss as the author put it.

This isn't a how-to book as much as it is examples of how-not-to book. The commentaries, insights and stories of various projects establish the "blues" mindset, the reasons behind the problems, which you want to stay away from.

I'm a technology and business consultant so it makes perfect sense to treat non-profit organizations as for-profit businesses. In fact, the reason I purchased the book is for insight on how I can apply my business consulting skills to help non-profits. The ultimate goal is to realize a vision, whether you are trying to make a profit or not. Through the stories you can see how easy it is to create a detrimental mindset and culture that hinders the success of the non-profit.

Every non-profit organization should have this book in their library, and read it.

This book is one great read - it's heady, funny and exquisitely written. Mr. Jenkins is eloquent, clever and brutally honest. Even if you aren't in a position where you report to a board, this book is worth your time. Very insightful, very witty and most helpful... Thanks David, great book!

As a newcomer to the management level of a nonprofit, I very much appreciated Mr. Jenkins' honest and direct portrayal of nonprofit management behind the scenes. This book is totally unlike other "management" books I've read; I expected a monologue, and was instead delighted to be privy to the decidedly honest, funny, and wildly divergent range of experiences described by many Executive Directors, Board members, and Board Presidents. I was both disturbed and oddly comforted to recognize many of the experiences, and am finding the anecdotes helpful in navigating similar situations in my own organization. Mr. Jenkins' clarification of the relationships and roles in nonprofit governance provides a solid structure for the book and a context for the stories. It's encouraging to read that Mr. Jenkins still believes that nonprofits truly can work to benefit the community - which really is the point, after all.