Saturday, May 19, 2007

The "non-profit leadership deficit": are we still this silly? Really?

If you're on staff at a U.S. non-profit organization or foundation you have likely heard something about The Nonprofit Sector’s Leadership Deficit”. That's the title of an early-2006 study published by a think-tank called the Bridgespan Group, which has been written about endlessly in all manner of media. I've personally attended a couple of gatherings where the report was discussed, and the group's president has made appearances at a number of conferences to talk about it.

As far as I can tell the report's conclusion -- that this sector will in coming years be drastically short of qualified leadership-level staffers -- has been accepted as fact. Put another way: if anyone has yet doubted the report's overall logic and conclusion I haven't read or heard of it.

I'd be happy to be proven wrong on that, because the report is nonsense; I've seen stronger logic in the pages of the John Birch Society newsletter. What comes to mind from reading it is a broad-based critical-thinking deficit.

It's easy to spot specific logic problems in the thing, for example their assumption that the growth in the number of staffed non-profits will indefinitely continue to be as high as it was in the late-1990s boom economy. They also keep repeating the canard about how the public sector in the U.S. is increasingly offloading services to non-profits, and appear unaware of the fact that top-level professionals in the non-profit sector enjoy their work and tend to keep working by choice well beyond age 62 or 65. And they clearly are still working from the assumption that non-profit salaries are lower compared to the same jobs in the for-profit sector.

On the supply side they seem to think that business schools are a key source pool for all this, I have no idea why. (I've helped hire several development directors and executive directors and program directors, and the idea of an MBA degree being a major qualification would just get a chuckle from the search committees I've been on.) So they basically conclude that since the number of MBA's isn't growing as fast as the non-profit sector as a whole, one more looming crisis for the perpetually-struggling non-profits! needs to be added to the list.

Sigh. This whole thing rests on the idea that supply and demand are somehow disconnected in real life: it does not seem to have occurred to anyone that a visibly-booming economic sector tends to attract more top-level talent. Is it not obvious in seventeen different ways that smart educated young Americans nowadays are flocking to make careers in this sector? (Yes it is, to anyone who's paying attention.) Is that not evidence that salary levels are not actually penurious around here and/or that a lot of the kind of folks we want are motivated by things other than owning a Lexus?

I notice no comparative context either: does not every growing economic sector have to reach farther to find the talent it needs? Isn't that basically normal? Is this sector having a harder time with that than have law or medicine or investment banking or whatever? I have no idea, and neither does anybody at Bridgespan Group.

I hope to be around long enough to see this marvelous sector learn to expect more logic and common sense than is being displayed on this subject.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

For generations, many non-profits have been leftist, influencing all sorts of corners of society. Now the demand is for 'transparancy' as more conservative EO's enter the arena last few decades.

Isn't 'Leadership' just a rallying call to battle conservative EO's and raise the entry qualifications?

Best World of Warcraft Gold Guide said...

great post man :)

Anonymous said...

free viagra in the uk viagra for sale without a prescription cost of viagra 18 takes viagra viagra patent viagra sales natural herbs used as viagra fda on viagra cheap viagra canada cheap viagra overnight does viagra work viagra equivalent which is better cialis or viagra viagra samples

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. great site great yes yess.
[url=http://maturepornlist.com]molf moms[/url]
molf moms
http://maturepornlist.com

Anonymous said...

Hello!
You may probably be very interested to know how one can manage to receive high yields on investments.
There is no initial capital needed.
You may commense to get income with a sum that usually goes
for daily food, that's 20-100 dollars.
I have been participating in one company's work for several years,
and I'm ready to share my secrets at my blog.

Please visit blog and send me private message to get the info.

P.S. I earn 1000-2000 per day now.

http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good dispatch and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you on your information.

Anonymous said...

Glad to greet you, ladies and gentlemen!

Sure, you’ve heard about me, because my fame is running in front of me,
my name is James F. Collins.
Generally I’m a venturesome gambler. recently I take a great interest in online-casino and poker.
Not long time ago I started my own blog, where I describe my virtual adventures.
Probably, it will be interesting for you to read my travel notes and reports about winnings and losses on this way.
Please visit my diary. http://allbestcasino.com I’ll be interested on your opinion..

Anonymous said...

Hey,

When ever I surf on web I come to this website[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url]Lots of good information here dot-org.blogspot.com. Frankly speaking we really do not pay attention towards our health. Here is a fact for you. Research shows that nearly 50% of all U.S. grownups are either obese or overweight[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url] Hence if you're one of these people, you're not alone. In fact, most of us need to lose a few pounds once in a while to get sexy and perfect six pack abs. Now next question is how you can achive quick weight loss? [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips]Quick weight loss[/url] is really not as tough as you think. Some improvement in of daily activity can help us in losing weight quickly.

About me: I am webmaster of [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips]Quick weight loss tips[/url]. I am also mentor who can help you lose weight quickly. If you do not want to go under hard training program than you may also try [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/acai-berry-for-quick-weight-loss]Acai Berry[/url] or [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/colon-cleanse-for-weight-loss]Colon Cleansing[/url] for effective weight loss.

viagra online said...

this kind of topic is good for people to learn more about it, and that people should be every day less ignorant, and medicine for this is the reading of issues like this

Anonymous said...

Artistically done is better than spectacularly said.

Anonymous said...

Lovingly done is sick than well said.

Anonymous said...

Splendidly done is well-advised b wealthier than spectacularly said.

Anonymous said...

Artistically done is well-advised b wealthier than comfortably said.

Anonymous said...

A human beings who dares to atrophy one hour of every now has not discovered the value of life.

[url=http://forums.aceteam.cl/index.php?showuser=1621]Linda[/url]


Gilda

Anonymous said...

We should be meticulous and discriminating in all the par‘nesis we give. We should be strikingly painstaking in giving opinion that we would not about of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to refrain from giving counsel which we don't imitate when it damages those who woo assume us at our word.

belt sander

[url=http://belt-sander-42.webs.com/apps/blog/]belt sander[/url]

Anonymous said...

A gink begins scathing his wisdom teeth the earliest chance he bites on holiday more than he can chew.

Anonymous said...

To be a good lenient being is to procure a make of openness to the world, an skill to trusteeship unsure things beyond your own pilot, that can govern you to be shattered in uncommonly exceptional circumstances on which you were not to blame. That says something exceedingly outstanding about the fettle of the ethical compulsion: that it is based on a corporation in the up in the air and on a willingness to be exposed; it's based on being more like a weed than like a prize, something fairly fragile, but whose acutely item attractiveness is inseparable from that fragility.

Anonymous said...

Vex ferments the humors, casts them into their meet channels, throws off redundancies, and helps feather in those hush-hush distributions, without which the association cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the man fake with cheerfulness.

Anonymous said...

Rihanna naked was born on the Caribbean island of Barbados in 1988. Through the years, particularly during her pre-teen and teenage years, she would sing to friends and family only for amusement purposes. One day, a mutual friend of Rihanna sex tape introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, whose home base is in New York.
rihanna naked
Rihanna was born on February 20, 1988, in a county in Barbados called St. Michael. She lived the life of a normal island girl going to Combermere, a top sixth form school, similar to grammar schools in the UK. Rihanna sex tape won a beauty pageant and performed Mariah Carey's "Hero" in a school talent show. Her life changed forever when one of her friends introduced her to Evan Rodgers, a producer from New York who was in Barbados for vacation with his wife, who is a native.
rihanna naked

Casino booms said...

Really nice review! Unboxing is the best part of getting something! thanks for a nice post.

Anonymous said...

The BEST read that I read all month :D

Imogene
http://lessor-insurance.info

Anonymous said...

I truly acknowledge that the answers specified is connected to absolutely everyone . Thank you .
Locksmith West palm beach FL
locksmith bridgeport ct
Locksmith Saratoga CA
Locksmith Santa Clara
Locksmith Santa Clara CA
Santa Clara locksmith
Santa Clara locksmith
miami locksmiths
miami locksmiths
irvine locksmith
Locksmith Mesquite
miami locksmiths
pembroke pines fl locksmith
miami locksmiths
pembroke pines fl locksmith
aventura locksmith
locksmith irvine
Locksmith Hialeah FL
Locksmith Mesquite tx
aventura locksmith
aventura locksmith
locksmith irvine
Locksmith Hialeah FL
Locksmith Hialeah FL
aventura locksmith
locksmith pembroke pines
locksmith pembroke pines fl
pembroke pines fl locksmith
Memphis Locksmiths

luck said...

uggs clearance Classic cheap uggs sale Patchwork is an additional stylish winter boot type that includes colourful collage about the boot silhouette. The real sheepskin helps your child to step back from moisture and have ultimate comfort. Uggs Outlet Cheap uggs sale, primarily a generic term for sheepskin boots, claim that they can get their origin australia wide or New Zealand. These popular boots lined with sheepskin contained in the product keep the feet at ugg boots clearance temperature especially in the winter season and don't let moisture access a pair of boots.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/10.jpg[/img][/url]
free dating ads to review [url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php]seperated dating children[/url] dating sites for big guys
50 dating sites [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]dating pregnant[/url] free sites for dating black men
dating kink [url=http://loveepicentre.com/taketour.php]free men over fifty dating[/url] singles fish dating site

Anonymous said...

sharepoint ebook http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/es/Manzana/c1094/?page=6 ebook race of a lifetime [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/es/Dise-o-Gr-fico/c1212/?page=4]the magic of thinking big ebook[/url] vampire diaries 6 ebook

Anonymous said...

tableau software gsa schedule http://buyoem.co.uk/de/product-35528/Axure-RP-Pro-6-0-for-MacOSX merchant directory free software [url=http://buyoem.co.uk/es/product-16941/MindManager-7-Mac]symantec software antivirus corporate edition[/url] best cd dvd playing software review
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/de/category-100-112/Multimedia-and-Unterhaltung]Multimedia & Unterhaltung - Software Store[/url] gps altitude software
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/product-10273/Macromedia-Contribute-3-Mac][img]http://buyoem.co.uk/image/6.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/cialis-super-active-plus.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/5.jpg[/img][/url]
new york state pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/neurontin.htm texas board of pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/epivir.htm]solar pharmacy[/url]
healthcare pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/tegretol.htm appleton and lange review of pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/fml-forte.htm]fml forte[/url]
tom thumb pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/zyban.htm corwin pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/cialis.htm]consulting pharmacy planogram[/url]
pharmacy belize http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/viagra.htm amitripttylinemexican pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/tretinoin-cream-0-05-.htm]tretinoin cream 0 05 [/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/cytotec.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/5.jpg[/img][/url]
dennis the chemist uk pharmacy prestwich http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/kamasutra-dotted-condoms.htm remke pharmacy newport ky [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/prednisone.htm]erics pharmacy[/url]
tramadol pharmacy order http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/zerit.htm free overseas pharmacy lists [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/propecia.htm]propecia[/url]
pharmacy technician jobs utah http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/b.htm hospital pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/relafen.htm]beiseker pharmacy[/url]
federal statute pharmacy open to public warehouse club http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/azulfidine.htm pharmacy mexico accepts paypal [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/depakote.htm]depakote[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/categories/men-s-health.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/9.jpg[/img][/url]
jordan pharmacy school http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/levitra.htm pre pharmacy programs [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/u.htm]the pharmacy shool in ohio[/url]
average community pharmacy fills http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/tadalis.htm pharmacy technician salary [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/cefadroxil.htm]cefadroxil[/url]
pharmacy wholesale service http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/herbolax.htm pharmacy maine [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/u.htm]ambien us pharmacy[/url]
pharmacy md http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/y.htm pharmacy course online [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/risperdal.htm]risperdal[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/lukol.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/2.jpg[/img][/url]
pharmacy sertraline http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/vitamin-c.htm walmart pharmacy dress code tie [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/detrol.htm]us pharmacy officer[/url]
world wide scholarship of pharmacy http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/voltaren.htm usa online pharmacy [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/motrin.htm]motrin[/url]
peral pharmacy clampham http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/ed-discount-pack-3.htm pharmacy and the world [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/zestril.htm]san francisco chinatown pharmacy[/url]
pharmacy technician medication errors http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/differin.htm gc pharmacy [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/vantin.htm]vantin[/url]

Anonymous said...

buy valium in ho chi minh street price valium uk - valium street value 2011