A comprehensive and readily accessible guide to help nonprofit leaders use the law to advance their missions
Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders offers a translation of the convoluted nonprofit legal framework into terms that nonprofit leaders without a law degree can understand. Schmidt provides a lens through which nonprofit leaders can see how these laws can help them pursue their missions and be responsive to the changing needs of the nonprofit sector and of society.
This book shows nonprofit leaders, board members, and volunteers how nonprofit law relates to all aspects of nonprofit management.
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Keep the Mission Front and Center
Chapter Three: Govern Wisely
Chapter Four: Fill the Coffers
Chapter Five: Go into Business?
Chapter Six: Treat Your Stakeholders Well (Just Not Too Well)
Chapter Seven: Advocate for Your Cause
Chapter Eight: Complete the Paperwork
Chapter Nine: Know How to Change Course
Chapter Ten: A Constructive Way Forward
Notes
Index
About the Author
Reviews
"Schmidt distills the complex legal landscape of the charitable sector into eight actionable precepts, empowering changemakers to pursue their missions with confidence and integrity."—Robert Katz, professor of law, Indiana University McKinney School of Law
"Schmidt's lively volume provides a very important service to nonprofit organizations, leaders, and staff—the best accessible introduction we have to doing good legally. All nonprofit leaders and staff should have this very useful guide to positive, legal action on their shelves."—Mark Sidel, Doyle-Bascom Professor of Law and Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison
"Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders is not just a book; it's a methodology for channeling social change passion. Schmidt does her readers a great service by focusing on what the law makes possible, not what it prohibits. This is no small feat; legal confusion too often snuffs out nonprofit passion—even as the law can in fact help keep us oriented toward purpose."—Jacob Harold, author, The Toolbox: Strategies for Crafting Social Impact
"Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders accomplishes something that is both unique and sorely needed: it combines a plain-English guide to nonprofit law with the very practical realities that nonprofit leaders face when trying to operationalize their visions. With clear, concise, and compelling writing, Schmidt's book is essential reading for nonprofit managers, executives, and startups, as well as lawyers entering the nonprofit space."—Martha B. Lackritz-Peltier, general counsel, TechSoup, and general manager, NGOsource
"An essential guide that transforms complex nonprofit law into clear, actionable guidance. Schmidt masterfully bridges theory and practice, helping leaders understand not just what the rules are but how to apply them effectively in service of their missions. What sets this book apart is its positive framing—rather than focusing on restrictions, it empowers nonprofit leaders to understand what they can do to achieve their goals while staying within legal bounds. The real-world examples and practical insights make this an invaluable resource for both new and experienced nonprofit leaders. This is the book I wish I had when I first joined a nonprofit board."—H. Art Taylor, president and chief executive officer, BBB Wise Giving Alliance
"This book belongs on the bookshelf of any and every serious nonprofit leader. Schmidt refreshingly encourages an informed constraints testing approach, which is too often missing in day-to-day practice."—Ruth McCambridge, cofounder and director of content, Nonprofit Financial Commons, and former editor-in-chief, Nonprofit Quarterly
About the Author
Elizabeth M. Schmidt is a professor of practice at the School of Public Policy in the University of Massachusetts Amherst who specializes in nonprofits, social enterprises, and policy analysis. She is coauthor of Nonprofit Law: The Life Cycle of a Charitable Organization, 3rd Edition (2021).
