Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Performance [Paperback]

Jason Saul (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2004

Benchmarking—the ongoing process of measuring an organization against leaders—can help stimulate innovation, increase impact, decrease costs, raise money, inspire staff, impress funders, engage the board, and sharpen the organization’s mission.

Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Performance defines a formal, systematic, and reliable way to benchmark, from preparing the organization to measuring performance and implementing best practices. Examples illustrate benchmarking in action. Exercises and worksheets guide the organization through benchmark-related processes.

Readers will learn: • The five key steps of benchmarking • The arguments against benchmarking—and why you should disregard them • How benchmarking differs from evaluation and assessment • How to form a benchmarking team • How to create a "success equation" that helps measure an organization’s performance • How to make sure to measure what matters • How to choose benchmarking partners • How to overcome staff resistance to benchmarking

Benchmarking is used by many innovative, well-managed nonprofit organizations. It ensures that an organization is always operating at peak performance. As Richard Millet, CEO of the Woods Fund observes, "Developing this capacity is important if we are to become more than sideline players in influencing social and economic policy." Benchmarking for Nonprofits will help nonprofits put this important tool to work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An essential companion for anyone trying to thrive in today’s nonprofit sector." -- Ricardo Millet, CEO, Woods Fund

"Saul offers a realistic, easy to implement process that can greatly improve your organization’s performance." -- Frank C. Polkowski, President, NonProfit & Management Consultants

"This book makes the case as to why benchmarking is critical and clearly guides organizations through the benchmarking process." -- Kathleen Enright, Executive Director, Grantmaking for Effective Organizations

"This is an important new resource that nonprofits can use to improve their performance in all areas of their operations." -- Marion Conway, Principal, Marion Conway Consulting

About the Author

B2P helps public-purpose organizations measure and improve performance. Prior to founding B2P, Jason practiced as an attorney, most recently in the Government Practice Group at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, LLP. In 1994, Jason cofounded the Center for What Works, a national nonprofit organization that promotes benchmarking and business practices in the nonprofit and public sector. He is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management-Public/Nonprofit Program. Jason holds a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, and MPP from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a BA in government and French literature at Cornell University. He is the 1989 Harry S. Truman Scholar from Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Fieldstone Alliance (October 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940069431
• ISBN-13: 978-0940069435
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Roadmap for Would be Benchmarkers, March 18, 2008

By 

bronx book nerd (Bronx, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Performance (Paperback)

This book is short yet captures all the essential components of a succesfull benchmarking program in the non-profit sector, including government agencies. Although the examples are specifically geared for non-profit organizations, the concepts and principles taught apply just as well for any governmental entity. Saul writes exceedingly well, treating a subject with surprising zest that has been handled dryly by others. The structure of the book is perfect, as it leads the benchmarking neophyte through each step of the process, from organizational preparation to benchmark process implementation. Saul gives clear definitions and terms, and provides ample examples of each so that the reader is not left adrift. The forms provided to assist in the benchmarking process are also very helpful. Particularly original is a "quadrant" form, reminiscent of Steven Covey's four quadrants form that captures the combinations of urgent/important/not urgent/unimportant. In Saul's treatment, the four quadrants cover the combinations of controllable/important/not controllable/unimportant - a wise reality check before undertaking major change. Saul also gives a siginificant example of an organization that appeared to be doing well based on the measures it was tracking, but was actually failing in its core mission because those measure were not appropriate. I would recomment this book as a primer for anyone interested in beginning a benchmarking program in a non-profit or government.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Must Have Benchmark Tool, October 26, 2010

By 

Jocelyne Daw "Author, Cause Marketing for Non... (Calgary, Alberta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Performance (Paperback)

Benchmarking for Nonprofits is a classic must have in the tool box of every nonprofit organization. Focusing on outcomes and constant improve is no long the nice to do, but the new must do for nonprofits. This book provides a framework and simple to use tools to do this work in an effective and efficient fashion. Today's donors want to know the difference nonprofits are making and Benchmarking for Nonprofits provides the tools to measure, manage and improve performance. This book deserves to be on the desk of every nonprofit leader.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have for any nonprofit, September 14, 2007

By 

J Masterson (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Performance (Paperback)

This book is an essential for every nonprofit manager's bookshelf. The straighforward writing style of Jason Saul, coupled with practical tools, will help create an effective benchmarking and outcomes management system.