Helpful Books

The following books are available at St. Louis Public Library. Other library districts or booksellers may also be able to provide these helpful publications; check directly with your library or bookseller for availability.

     1. Basic Board Information 

• The Board Member's Books, by Brian O'Connell
• Strategic Board: The Step-by-Step Guide to High-Impact Governance, by Mark Light
• Boards That Make a Difference: A New Design for Leadership in Nonprofit & Public Organizations, ed. by John Carver
• Navigating the Organizational Lifecycle: A Capacity-Building Guide for Nonprofit Leaders, by Paul Connolly
• Board Member's Guide to Strategic Planning, by Fisher Howe
• Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards, by Richard Chait
• Better Bylaws: Creating Effective Rules for Your Nonprofit Board, 2nd ed., by D. Benson Tesdahl, BoardSource, 2010
• At the Crossroads: Not-for-profit Leadership Strategies for Executives and Boards, by Philip Coltoff, Wiley 2010.

     2. Guides for Specific Board Activities

• Understanding Nonprofit Financial Statements, 3rd ed. by Steven H. Berger 
• The Board Chair Handbook, by Mindy R. Wertheimer
• The Nonprofit Dashboard: A Tool for Tracking Progress, by Lawrence Butler
• Getting the Best from Your Board, by Sherill K. Williams
• Taming the Troublesome Board Member, by Katha Kissman
• Managing Conflicts of Interest: A Primer for Nonprofit Boards, 2nd ed., by Danie Kurtz
• The Nonprofit Policy Sampler, 2nd ed., by Barbara Lawrence (in our reference section)
• Generating Buzz: Strategic Communications for Nonprofit Boards, by Sally J. Patterson
• Dollars & Sense: The Nonprofit Board’s Guide to Determining Chief Executive Compensation, by Brian H. Vogel
• Transforming Board Structure: Strategies for Committees and Task Forces, by Marla J. Bobowick
• Not-for-Profit Audit Committee Best Practices, by Warren Ruppel
• Getting Started with Policy Governance,  by Caroline Oliver, Jossey-Bass
• Cash Flow Solution: A Nonprofit Board Member’s Guide to Financial Success, by Richard Lenzer
• Nonprofit Mergers & Alliances, 2nd ed., by Thomas McLaughlin, Wiley, 2010
• Social Media for Social Good, by Heather Mansfield, McGraw-Hill, 2012
  

     3.  Fundraising Information

• Fundraising for Social Change, 6th Edition, by Kim Dlein, Jossey-Bass, 2011       
• Volunteer's Guide to Fundraising, by Ilona Bray, Nolo, 2011 
• Collaborative Grantseeking, A Guide to Designing Projects, Leading Partners & Persuading Sponsors, by Jeremy T. Miner, Lynn E. Miner & Jerry Griffith, Greenwood, 2011
• Executive's Guide to Fundraising Operations, Principles, Tools & Trends, by Christopher Cannon, CFRS, Wiley, 2011
• Finance Fundamentals for Nonprofits: Building Capacity & Sustainability, by Woods Bowman, Wiley, 2011
• Getting Grants, the Complete Manual of Proposal Development & Administration, by Alexis Carter-Black, Self Counsel Press, 2010
• Spirituality of Fundraising, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, Upper Room Books, 2010
• Govern More, Manage Less: Harnessing the Power of Your Nonprofit Board, 2nd ed., by Cathy A. Trower, BoardSource, 2010,
• Strategic Fund Development, by Simone P. Joyaux, Wiley, 2011

• Results Now for Nonprofits, Purpose, Strategy, Operations and Governance, by Mark Light, Wiley, 2011
• Joining a Nonprofit Board What You Need to Know, by Marc J. Epstein and F. Warren McFarlan, Jossey-Bass, 2011
• Future of Nonprofits: Innovate & Thrive in the Digital Age, by David J. Neff & Randall C. Moss, Wiley, 2011
• Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations, A Reference Handbook, edited by Kathryn A. Agard, Sage, 2011
• Nonprofit Outcomes Toolbox: Complete Guide to Program Effectiveness, Performance Measurement & Results, by Robert M. Penna, Wiley, 2011
• From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Involvement, by Susan J. Ellis, Energize, Inc., 2011
• Collaborative Governance: Private Roles for Public Goals in Turbulent Times, by John D. Donahue & Richard J. Zeckhauser, Princeton U. Press, 2011
• Nonprofit Management 101: A Complete & Practical Guide for Leaders & Professionals, by Darian Rodriquez Heyman, Jossey-Bass, 2011

             VLAA offers a number of publications to assist nonprofits, including those listed below.
             To obtain copies, contact www.vlaa.org.  

• Guide to Board Duties and Liabilities, by Peter Ruger,(2010) 
• Guide to Financial Oversight, by Sue Greenberg (2010)