BOOK REVIEWForces for Good: The six practices of high-impact nonprofits (Crutchfield & Grant, 2008)

“Myths of nonprofit excellence”

• Myth 1: Perfect Management

• Myth 2: Brand-name awareness

• Myth 3: A breakthrough new idea

• Myth 4: Textbook mission statements

• Myth 5: High ratings on conventional metrics

• Myth 6: Large budgets

Central finding

LeverageGreat organizations work with and through others to create more impact than they could achieve alone.

6 Practices

• Advocate & Serve• Make Markets Work• Inspire Evangelists• Nurture Nonprofit Networks• Master the Art of Adaptation• Share Leadership

Organizing framework

High impact nonprofit- Adaptation

- Shared Leadership

Advocate to Government

Work with Business

Collaborate with Nonprofits

Engage individuals

Advocate & ServeMake Markets WorkInspire EvangelistsNurture Nonprofit NetworksMaster the Art of AdaptationShare Leadership

Implications

• Seed social movements and help build fields• Shape government policy• Engage individuals and change attitudes• Networks of collaborators

• Privilege working outside of the organizational boundaries• Organizations just need to be “good enough”• Results orientated

Yeah right

Food for thought…

• What does high-impact mean to your organization?

• How does your organization measure its impact?

• How helpful is the idea of leverage?

• Do any of the six practices resonate?

• How might these ideas translate into everyday operations?

Pragmatic idealism & SVPs