Why Nonprofits Fail: Overcoming Founder's Syndrome, Fundphobia and Other Obstacles to Success

Stephen R. Block



In Why Nonprofits Fail, author and nonprofit expert Stephen Block explains that many well-intentioned leaders hold on to views of their nonprofit organizations that perpetuate problems rather than help fix them. According to Block, the first step to success is to challenge one's own personal paradigms and ideas and be open to unique and alternative approaches to solving problems. This much-needed book helps nonprofits get back on track and offers advice about the seven most common stumbling blocks, including:
• Founder's syndrome
• Fundphobia
• Financial misfortune
• Recruitment disorientation
• Cultural depression in nonprofit organizations
• Self-serving political performance
• Role confusion between the board and executive director

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xv

The Author xvii

Part I: Charting a New Path to Success

1. Preventing Failure, Ensuring Success 3

2. The Need for Alternative Tools 13

3. The Framework and the Steps 21

4. First-Order and Second-Order Approaches to Change 27

Part II: Seven Tough Problems and How to Solve Them

5. Recruitment Disorientation 41

6. Cultural Depression in Nonprofit Organizations 59

7. Political Performance 73

8. Role Confusion 91

9. Financial Misfortune 107

10. Fundphobia 121

11. Founder's Syndrome 135

Conclusion: Managing Nonprofit Organizational Change 155

Resource A: A Review of Organizational Behavior Theories 161

Resource B: Recommended Reading 179

References 181

Index 185