Nonprofit Management Principles and Practice

“The first edition of Nonprofit Management: Principles and Practice was published by SAGE in 2009. The second edition was published in 2012, the third in 2014, the fourth in 2017, the fifth in 2019, and the sixth in 2021. It is striking how much the landscape of the nonprofit sector has continued to change over the years, requiring frequent updates to keep the text current with the state of the field in nonprofit management. Changes reflected in this seventh edition of the book include updated data; trends, new concepts and research, and new cases that have drawn attention since the sixth edition was completed. The inevitable lag between research and writing and publication often means that readers should be alert to recent changes and events that may have occurred during the process of publishing the book. There are reminders of this reality throughout the book, and it is recommended that students consult referenced websites and other resources on points that seem subject to change. It is, of course, impossible to know what conditions will prevail when this book reaches readers. The economic recession that began in 2007, which some people called the Great Recession, took a significant toll on many nonprofit organizations, resulting in decreased financial resources at a time when the demand for services was increasing. A decade later, by 2017, the economy had largely recovered. By 2019, unemployment was low and financial markets had reached historic highs. Then, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the nation into crisis, including a significant economic downturn. Nonprofit organizations were again significantly impacted. Many needed to reduce staff and cut budgets while facing increased needs for services. The economy had improved by 2022, but inflation reached levels not seen in decades, exerting additional pressures. Then Russia invaded Ukraine, upending global political conditions. At the time of this writing, it is impossible to predict what conditions may prevail by the time this edition reaches its readers. Perhaps the economy will be strong and the world will be at peace or perhaps difficult conditions will prevail. The ups and downs of the economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have produced a heightened awareness of uncertainty; the need for nonprofits to use resources efficiently and effectively; the importance of achieving diverse revenue sources to weather various economic scenarios; and the need for risk management strategies that prepare for unforeseen events and circumstances. Those historical events also demonstrated the critical importance of nonprofits in meeting human and community needs and the resilience of the sector in times of crisis”–