Center for Social Innovation

Forces For Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits
By Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant

What makes great nonprofits great? Not large budgets. Not snazzy marketing. Not perfect management. The answer is not what you might think.

Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant spent four years surveying thousands of nonprofit CEOs, conducting hundreds of interviews, and studying a dozen high-impact nonprofits to uncover their secrets to success. Their quest took them to the well-known (Habitat for Humanity), to the less-well-known (Self-Help) and to the unexpected (The Exploratorium). What the authors discovered surprised them.

At a time when the social sector has grown to more than $1 trillion, understanding what leads to impact is essential. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, philanthropist, business executive, board member, volunteer—or simply interested in changing the world—this book will inspire you to be a stronger force for good.

Book presentation by author Heather McLeod Grant [Listen now]

Stanford Conversations in Philanthropy
Edited by Julie Juergens and Bruce Sievers

In this engaging anthology, thought leaders reflect on the purposes, accountability, and practices of 21st century philanthropy. An array of experts explore the purpose of giving and issues that arise with the disposition of private wealth. Woven throughout these reflections is the central question: What is the role of philanthropy in society? The book addresses questions such as: What guides the thinking of donors and foundation leaders? Do new and veteran grantmakers approach their work differently? How should foundations be accountable? These reflections are based on a multi-year lecture series sponsored by Stanford's Center for Social Innovation and Haas Center for Public Service.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die?
By Professor Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Why do some ideas change lives and minds, while others go in one ear and out the other? Admirable ideas - a great book, a worthy public health initiative, a high school history lesson - sometimes have a hard time succeeding in the world. Meanwhile, many shady ideas - urban legends, product slogans, rumors - often succeed with no trouble at all. Why? Made to Stick discusses the principles that link sticky ideas of all kinds. This book is written for anyone who strives to craft messages that are memorable and lasting: teachers, business people, journalists, ministers, and nonprofit leaders. It's a book for anyone who needs to share an important idea and make it stick. Faculty member Chip Heath and his brother Dan co-authored Made to Stick and discuss their book in an interview with co-host Meredith Vieira Today Show (5 minutes, RealPlayer® format) NBC, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007

The Nonprofit Sector: A Research Handbook
By Professor Walter W. Powell

The long-awaited second edition of what has been called the "bible" of nonprofit scholarship provides a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary perspective on nonprofit organizations and their role in society. Twenty-seven new chapters by prominent scholars reflect upon the rapidly expanding world of nonprofits, co-edited by Professor Walter W. Powell, director of the Center for Social Innovation's nonprofit management study.

Table of Contents [ PDF 98.3KB]
Preface [ PDF 92.3KB]

Integrating Mission and Strategy for Nonprofit Organizations
By Professor James A. Phills, Jr.

In this stimulating journey across sector and disciplinary boundaries, James A. Phills Jr. applies and adapts the core body of general management knowledge about mission, strategy, and execution to help nonprofit leaders deal with the special challenges they face. Phills develops an action-oriented framework that contains rigorous analysis with the practical challenges of execution and change. In addition to helping nonprofit leaders think through important decisions and make concrete choices, he provides a shared language and discipline that can serve as the basis for more productive discussions between the individuals who lead nonprofits, the business executives who serve on their boards, and the philanthropists who support their organization and programs.

Living into Leadership: A Journey in Ethics
By Bowen H. McCoy

Over the past few years, the business world has been wracked by corporate scandals. One cannot help but wonder, "Is business success synonymous with a lack of morality? With a resounding "no", Bowen H. "Buss" McCoy, former partner at Morgan Stanley, draws upon sources such as Dante, Kant, and Drucker and examines how business leaders can flourish without compromising integrity. This pratical work incorporates classroom materials developed by the author for ethics programs at various business schools, including Stanford. This book is the first in a series of books on ethics and leadership published in collaboration with Stanford University Press.

Presentation by the author Audio FileAudio (18:04 minutes)