Written by Ron Mattocks, Zone of Insolvency shines a bright and urgent light on the real issue of creating financial strength across the whole spectrum of nonprofit organizations. This insightful book uniquely shows you how to rise above "business as usual" with workable solutions to launch your organization out of the Zone of Insolvency and into financial viability.
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Zone of insolvency
How Nonprofits Avoid Hidden Liabilities and Build Financial Strength
Would you know if your nonprofit is in the Zone of Insolvency and understand the related legal responsibilities and liabilities of operating in financial distress? Approximately one-third of nonprofits—more than 450,000 organizations—function perpetually in the Zone of Insolvency, i.e., in financial distress, and approximately seven percent are completely insolvent. What is the impact of hundreds of millions of dollars given to charitable organizations that operate in perpetual financial distress? Do board members have an inherent obligation to keep nonprofit organizations in operation regardless of their financial condition, or theirmission effectiveness?
Written by Ron Mattocks with the knowledge and authority that comes from many years of leadership and consulting in the nonprofit sector, Zone of Insolvency shines a bright and urgent light on the real issue of creating financial strength across the whole spectrum of nonprofit organizations. This stirring book confronts the brutal facts of financial self-examination in nonprofits and equips professionals with a framework for thinking about their organizational options that will lead them to move beyond resigned acceptance of perpetually living in the Zone of Insolvency.
Required reading for nonprofit managers, board members, and volunteers, Zone of Insolvency takes an honest look at the fundamental obstacles facing the nonprofit sector through case studies of organizations including:
United Way of America: Business or Charity?
American Red Cross: Aggressive Stance Against Fraud
Allegheny Health, Education & Research Foundation: Toxic Growth
United Way National Capital Area: Rights of Ownership
Electronic Industries Alliance: Dissolution Celebration
A rousing wake-up call to nonprofits of every size and background, this insightful book uniquely shows you how to rise above "business as usual" with practical, workable solutions to launch your organization out of the Zone of Insolvency and into financial viability.
From the Back Cover
Praise for Zone of insolvency
How Nonprofits Avoid Hidden Liabilities and Build Financial Strength
"Zone of Insolvency is a true wake-up call to all board and executive leaders in the nonprofit sector. The combination of real-life cases and practical tools provides a clear and powerful guide to a financially sound and responsible organization."
—Carol Thompson Cole President and CEO, Venture Philanthropy Partners
"Zone of Insolvency raises the vexing financial questions that every nonprofit organization needs to ask itself regularly to justify its continued existence, and Ron Mattocks serves well the entire sector by combining research, practice, and an action plan that fits all sizes of nonprofits."
—Dr. Tim SeilerDirector, Public Service and The Fund Raising School, Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
"Too many nonprofits think the risk of financial insolvency doesn't apply to them since they operate on the financial edge so much of the time. It's way too easy to slip into the zone and way too difficult to get out. I hope nonprofit execs, financial managers, and board members use this excellent resource to help them recognize the peril of operating in, or even near, the Zone of Insolvency."
—Christine Park President, New York Life Foundation
"A comprehensive and thoughtful guide . . . required reading for any nonprofit board member."
—Darrell Clark, Attorney
"Ron Mattocks's book is a must-read for any nonprofit executive who wishes to be a good steward of its resources."
—Chad W. Davis, MBA, CPAC.W. Davis & Associates
"Zone of Insolvency should top the reading list for every nonprofit board member, manager, or donor . . . Ron Mattocks articulates a compelling strategy that will launch your organization to a whole new level of fiscal strength."
—Frank Lofaro CEO, Christian Management Association
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sandwiched Between Solvency and Total Insolvency,
By John W. Pearson "John Pearson Associates" (San Clemente, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Zone of Insolvency: How Nonprofits Avoid Hidden Liabilities & Build Financial Strength (Hardcover)
Recently, the CNBC "American Greed" TV series launched with a memorable episode that wounded and embarrassed nonprofits (Harvard, Penn State, and dozens of evangelical ministries) a decade ago. "The Con Man" was John Bennett. CNBC reported, "Some said he was a visionary and a godsend. His New Era Philanthropy foundation doled out $100 million nationwide. Was it too good to be true?"
Yes. Could it have been avoided? Maybe. Will it happen again? It's not likely if you follow the well-researched and documented counsel in Ron Mattock's new book. "The Zone of Insolvency," writes Mattocks, "is a period of corporate financial distress, sandwiched between solvency and total insolvency." Mattocks puts a spotlight on the alarming number--up to 450,000--of nonprofits that are operating under financial distress, the Zone of Insolvency, and how the courts have expanded board member legal responsibilities and liabilities in these cases. It's fascinating and scary reading. He gives key lessons from the success and failure stories of 10 organizations, including: United Way of America, New Era Philanthropy, Baptist Foundation of Arizona, American Red Cross, and others. The book is organized into four parts: perspective, naming the disease, symptoms and the cure. You'll get hooked reading the first 10 chapters (10 nonprofits in trouble) and you'll be comforted with his practical suggestions for executives and board members. He includes sample board policies for avoiding or escaping the Zone of Insolvency--and every chapter concludes with "Five Great Questions for Your Next Board Meeting." The author says every board must ask itself, "Do we exercise a healthy dose of skepticism in carrying out our fiduciary responsibilities?" And how about this one: "If we decided today to close this organization, would we complete the close-down with net assets remaining, or net liability?" This important book expands on the themes in my Board Bucket and Budget Bucket, two of the 20 buckets in my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit. Caution! Some board members may get cold feet and resign from your board after reading The Zone of Insolvency. That's not necessarily a bad thing.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lot of great Information in one book,
This review is from: The Zone of Insolvency: How Nonprofits Avoid Hidden Liabilities & Build Financial Strength (Hardcover)
The book is logically laid out and well indexed. The author sets the scene by briefly taking the reader through case studies of ten non-profit organizations who dealt with challenges to the solvency of the enterprise. He identifies the responsibilities of each organization's board of directors and how each either fell short or rose to the occasion.
Each chapter is presented in a bite size format, coming quickly to the main teaching point and facilitating a quick return to any portion for further thought and future reference. A check list is provided at the close of the chapter to drive home the key points and enable their customization and/or application to your particular area of responsibility. After a thorough portrayal of the various pitfalls a non-profit can and frequently does face, the final section presents various cure scenarios covering the analysis and assessment of a non-profit structure. These include a discussion of courses of action that will, first, prevent/avoid failure (insolvency); second, enable the honest assessment of the situation to recognize that failure (bankruptcy) is possible or even probable and third, in the worst case, guide the dissolution of the organization with no further or minimal damage to its distributed assets. This is a very valuable work that can serve as an excellent textbook and discussion guide in both academic and business seminar environments and as a desk-side reference for all who serve in any oversight capacity for a non-profit enterprise.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Non-Profit Officer's Take,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Zone of Insolvency: How Nonprofits Avoid Hidden Liabilities & Build Financial Strength (Hardcover)
This is an excellent book on what the tip offs are for a non-profit that is looking like it might go belly up. After working for several non-profits as a board member, I wish I had had this in hand before some of the board meetings, as I would have had a much better way of relating what I saw to those who were so mission-oriented that they refused to see what they should have seen in the business end of a non-profit.
The book takes you through several non-profit horror stories and bad dream situations to give you a feel for how bad it can get, and what they board members may have to face. It details several bad deals, scandals, and non-profits working through difficulties to give you a flavor of what can happen. While I would have liked it to be a bit more definitive about what certain things were about, and when things will have to be dealt with, it is certainly a revelation about how mismanaged non-profits can be, and what it may take to right the ship. It also deals with the event that all 'true believer's' dread, when to close the curtain. While a bit short on details at some junctures, it nevertheless details the hazards, and what good board members need to be aware of to prevent themselves and their organizations from falling into the Zone of Insolvency, which can become a personal liability issue as well. What sucks is AMAZON sending me notices every 6 hours to do another review of this book!!!!!!
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fundraising ratio, fund balance, deferred revenue, distressed nonprofits, financially distressed nonprofit, distressed organizations, strong nonprofits, filing for dissolution, prudent board, annual net gains, cash flow fluctuations, internal borrowing, program ratio, fiscal strength, nonprofit board members, peer organizations, next board meeting Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Zone of Insolvency, New Era, Chasing Windmills, Leader of the Pack, United Way, Baptist Foundation of Arizona, American Red Cross, Fairfax County, Program Services, Total Revenue, Executive Director, Total Assets, Washington Post, Arthur Andersen, Total Liabilities, Grants Ratio, National Alliance of Business, Southern Baptist, Program Service Revenue Ratio, Allegheny Health, Government Grants, Executive Committee, Wall Street Journal, Sherif Abdelhak, Total Expenditures Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
fundraising ratio, fund balance, deferred revenue, distressed nonprofits, financially distressed nonprofit, distressed organizations, strong nonprofits, filing for dissolution, prudent board, annual net gains, cash flow fluctuations, internal borrowing, program ratio, fiscal strength, nonprofit board members, peer organizations, next board meeting Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Zone of Insolvency, New Era, Chasing Windmills, Leader of the Pack, United Way, Baptist Foundation of Arizona, American Red Cross, Fairfax County, Program Services, Total Revenue, Executive Director, Total Assets, Washington Post, Arthur Andersen, Total Liabilities, Grants Ratio, National Alliance of Business, Southern Baptist, Program Service Revenue Ratio, Allegheny Health, Government Grants, Executive Committee, Wall Street Journal, Sherif Abdelhak, Total Expenditures Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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