New York University
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
Foundations of Nonprofit Management P11.2125 (Fall 2011)
Professor:
Email:
Leah Goodridge
lsg6@nyu.edu
Class Meeting Times and Location: Thursdays 6:45 – 8:25 @ (145 4th Avenue, Room 204)
Office Hours: Email me to arrange a time
Prerequisite: P11.1020 or equivalent
Course Description
This course examines nonprofit leadership in the U.S. and internationally by infusing critical learning
with real-world application. The goal of the course is to deepen students’ understanding of trends in
the nonprofit sector such as the evolving definition of charity, management styles and funding
priorities.
The central questions of the course are:
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How have government and society defined the role of nonprofits?
How do nonprofits engage in political action?
Has the nonprofit sector reinvented itself with social innovation?
Has philanthropic support changed the effectiveness of nonprofits in any way?
Classes include a mix of discussion, activities and reflection. Students will participate in group
presentations/case studies which involve a fictional nonprofit facing a complex issue. Accordingly,
students will address and resolve the issue as managers. In addition to the group presentations,
students will prepare policy proposals which outline a problem within the nonprofit sphere.
Therefore, through readings, class activities, case studies and written assignments, the course will
increase students’ knowledge and understanding of collective action, advocacy and management
techniques in the nonprofit sector. The course is suitable for students with a broad array of interests
in the nonprofit sector—the common nucleus is the motivation to learn more about the foundations
of nonprofit management.
Required Texts
Available at NYU Bookstore:
 Frumkin, Peter. 2005. On Being Non-profit: A Conceptual and Policy Primer. Cambridge:
Harvard University Press

Collins, Jim. 2005. Why Business Thinking is Not the Answer. Good to Great and the
Social Sectors. A monograph to accompany Good to Great
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Additional required readings are available electronically via NYU’s online electronic journal service
on Blackboard and the NYU Bobst Library Course Reserves.
Blackboard
You must have access to the class Blackboard site at http://classes.nyu.edu. To access Blackboard,
visit NYUHome, click the Academic tab and then select ―Foundations of Nonprofit Management‖
on the class list. Please note that all announcements related to the class will be posted on
Blackboard.
Statement of Academic Integrity
In accordance with Wagner’s Academic Code, all assignments must be the original work of the
student. Violations of the Academic Code, such as plagiarism, will result in a failing grade for the
entire course and further disciplinary action by the school.
http://wagner.nyu.edu/students/policies.
Grading
Wagner’s grading scale is as follows: A/4.0, A-/3.7, B+/3.3, B/3.0, B-/2.7, C+/2.3, C/2.0, C-/1.7
and F/0.
Class Participation: 15%
Class participation includes punctuality, attendance and participation.
Journaling (three sets): 25%
1 page reaction papers. For more information, see ―Instructions for Journaling‖ on Blackboard.
Group Presentations: 25%
Each student is required to participate in a group presentation during class on October 28. There
will be five fictional cases in which a nonprofit is facing a severe problem. As management, your
team is required to develop a way to address the issue. Each fictional nonprofit will have a different
area of focus (i.e., children’s rights, environmental protection). This project will culminate in a
group grade. More additional information, see ―Instructions for Group Presentations‖ on
Blackboard.
Policy Paper: 35%
Student must prepare a 6-8 page policy proposal, outlining a major problem affecting the nonprofit
sector (which can be an issue that was not covered in class). Your proposal must consist of the: (1)
Executive Summary; (2) Problem Statement including a description of ways the problem has been
previously addressed; and (3) Proposal. For more information, see ―Instructions for Policy Paper‖
on Blackboard.
Suggested topics include:
 The Riskiness of Nonprofits Engaging in Political Activities
 Philanthrocapitalism and Funding Priorities for Nonprofits
 Diversity and Effectiveness of the Nonprofit Sector
PART I: CONCEPTUALIZING THE NONPROFIT WORLD
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CLASS 1: Introduction to Nonprofits: The State of the Nonprofit Sector (Sep. 8)
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Lester M. Salamon and Stephanie Lessans Geller with the assistance of Kasey L. Spence,
2008, Nonprofit Policy Priorities for the New Administration, John’s Hopkins University,
Communique No. 11. (Blackboard).

The Nonprofit Sector in Brief: Facts and Figures from the Nonprofit Almanac, 2008.
(Blackboard).
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Heather McLeod Grant & Leslie R. Crutchfield, Creating High-Impact Nonprofits.
Stanford Social Innovation Review, Fall 2007: 5, 4. (Blackboard).
CLASS 2: What Does “Charity” Mean and What is the Rationale for Tax-Exemption? (Sep.
15)
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John P. Persons et al, Criteria for Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3)—The Development
of the Legal Definition of Charity in England. IV Research Papers Sponsored by the Filer
Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs 1909, 1912-1916 (1977).
(Blackboard).
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Mark A. Hall and John D. Colombo, The Donative Theory of the Charitable Tax
Exemption, Ohio State Law Journal, 1381-1389 (1991).
PART II: UNDERSTANDING THE NONPROFIT SECTOR’S FUNCTIONS:
DOMINANT THEORIES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY & MANAGEMENT
CLASS 3: The Distinctiveness of the Nonprofit Sector (Sep. 22)
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Collins, Jim. 2005. Why Business Thinking is Not the Answer. Good to Great and the Social Sectors.
A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great. (Page 1-9; 28-33).
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Frumkin, Peter. 2002. On Being Non-profit: A Conceptual and Policy Primer. Chapter 1.
 Austin, James E., Roberto Gutierrez, Enrique Ogliastri, & Ezequiel Reficco. 2007.
―Capitalizing on Convergence‖, Stanford Social Innovation Review, pp. 24-31 (Blackboard).
Set # 1 journal entries (Classes 1, 2 & 3) due Sep. 22
CLASS 4: Expressive Functions: Political Theories (Sep. 29)
 Nelson, Fraser, Brady, David W. and Snibbe, Alana. 2007. ―Learn to Love Lobbying.‖
Stanford Social Innovation Review. Spring 2007: 5, 2 (pp. 56-63). (Blackboard).
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Brothers, John. 2011. ―ACORN, NPR, Planned Parenthood, and The Sector’s Challenges
in Protecting Itself.‖ Stanford Social Innovation Review (2011) (Blackboard).
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Bass, Gary. 2009. ―Advocacy in the Public Interest‖, Center for Public and Nonprofit
Leadership, Georgetown University, pp. 2-17 (Blackboard).
CLASS 5: Expressive Functions: Community Theories (Oct. 7)
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Simon, William H. 2002. ―The Community Economic Movement.‖ Wisconsin Law Review,
Pages 36-60 (Blackboard).
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Hedayat Nikkah and Ma’rof Bin Redzuan. 2010. The Role of NGOs in Promoting
Empowerment for Sustainable Community Development. Journal of Human Ecology.
(Blackboard).
CLASS 6: Instrumental Functions: Cultural and Economic Theories (Oct. 14)
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Diaz, William. 2002. ―For Whom and For What? The Contributions of the Nonprofit
Sector‖ in Lester Salamon (ed) the State of Nonprofit America. Washington, D.C.:
Brookings Institution Press, pp. 517-535 (Course Reserves).
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Testimony of Elizabeth T. Boris, United States House of Representatives Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Oversight: Hearing to Examine Whether Charitable Organizations Serve
Needs of Diverse Communities (2007) (Blackboard).
Set # 2 journal entries (for classes 4, 5 & 6) due Oct. 14
CLASS 7: Instrumental Functions: Entrepreneurial Theories (Oct. 21)
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Frumkin, Peter. Chapter 5: Social Entrepreneurship (pp. 129-162).
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Phills, James et al. 2008. Rediscovering Social Innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review
(Blackboard).
CLASS 8: From Theory to Practice: Nonprofit Management (Oct. 28)
Group presentations
PART III: PULLS AND TENSIONS IN SUSTAINING AND BUILDING CAPACITY
IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR
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CLASS 9: The Changing Landscape of Philanthropy (Nov. 3)

Edwards, Michael. 2008. Philanthrocapitalism: After the Gold Rush. (Blackboard).

Lenkowsky, Leslie. 2002. ―Foundations and Corporate Philanthropy‖ in Salamon, Lester
(ed). The State of Nonprofit America. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, pp.
355-386. (Course Reserves).
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Eisenberg, Pablo. 2010. ―The Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge Won’t Do Much Good Unless
it Changes Philanthropy‖ in Chronicle of Philanthropy, July 19, 2010 (3 pages) (Blackboard).
CLASS 10: From Service to Social Change (Nov. 10)
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―Social Service and Social Change: A Process Guide‖ New York: Building Movement
Project, 2006, available electronically at
http://www.buildingmovement.org/process_guide.pdf
CLASS 11: Replicating and Scaling Up Results (Nov. 17)

Bradach, Jeffrey. 2003. ―Going to Scale: The Challenge of Replicating Social Programs‖.
Stanford Social Innovation Review. (Blackboard).
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Bradach, Jeffrey. 2010. ―Scaling Impact‖, in Ideas, First Person. Stanford Social Innovation
Review, pp. 27-28. (Blackboard).
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Roob, N. and J. Bradach. 2009. Scaling that Works: Implications for Philanthropists,
Policymakers and Nonprofit Leaders. The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and The
Bridgespan Group, pp. 1-5. (Blackboard).
Set #3 journal entries (for classes 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11)
CLASS 12: Accountability, Legitimacy and Performance Management (Dec. 1)
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Vernis, Alfred et al. 2006. ―Accountability Elements in Nonprofits.‖ In Vernis, Alfred et al.
Nonprofit Organizations, Challenges and Collaboration. New York: Palgrave MacMillan,
pp. 91-110. (Blackboard).
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Stern v. Lucy Webb Hayes National Training School for Deaconess, (D.C. Cir. 1974)
(Blackboard).
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Emerson, Jed. 2009. ―But Does it Work?‖ Stanford Social Innovation Review. (Blackboard).
CLASS 13: International and Comparative Perspectives (Dec. 8)
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
Anheier, Helmut and Lester M. Salamon, 2006. The Nonprofit Sector in Comparative
Perspective in Powell, Walter and Steinberg, Richard. 2006. The Nonprofit Sector: A
Research Handbook. 2nd Edition. New Haven: Yale. (Pp. 89-103). (Course Reserves).
Please read only one of the following:
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Hortsch1, Diana. 2008. Case Study: Defining Responsible Advocacy: The International
NGO Accountability Charter. New York: Research Center for Leadership in Action, NYU
Wagner. (Blackboard).
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Hortsch2, Diana. 2008. Case Study: The Philippine Council for NGO Certification: Ten
Years Later, New York: Research Center for Leadership in Action, NYU/Wagner.
(Blackboard).
CLASS 14: Putting it all together (Dec. 15)
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Frumkin, Peter. Chapter 6: Balancing the Functions of Nonprofit and Voluntary Action
(pp. 136-181).
***Policy paper due Dec. 16, 2011***
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