RELEVANT
REVIEWS
A Guide to
Revenue Diversification for Directors of Non-Profit
Organizations
Venture
Philanthropy, Commercial Ventures and Venture Capital
Opportunities for Association Charities, and Other
Non-Profit Organizations
Pepin, John. Toronto, ON: Canadian
Society of Association Executives. ISBN: 0-921998-34-1.
72 pages. http://www.csae.com/bookstore
Price
$19.95 (members)
$24.95
(non-members)
Plus
shipping & handling
Plus
applicable GST/HST
Overview
-
This monograph
focuses on social entrepreneurialism as it applies to
not-for-profit organizations primarily through venture
philanthropy, commercial ventures and venture capital.
-
It is based on
the author's 15 years of experience as a chief executive
officer of NPOs, where he implemented these concepts,
and six years providing consulting support and mentoring
to a wide variety of third sector organizations in the
United Kingdom and in North America.
-
Its purpose is
to help association staff and volunteers:
- Learn about revenue diversification
through venture philanthropy, commercial ventures and
venture capital, and
- Understand the different elements of
the process enabling organizations to decide on
applicability
Contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction It
gives an overview of the benefits of the process and the
purpose of the monograph.
Chapter 2 - Venture Philanthropy
It describes this relatively new approach to revenue
generation outlining activities to date; elements,
strategic issues; approaches; planning and the first step,
and a feasibility analysis.
Chapter 3 - Commercial Ventures
It outlines the business-to-business framework and
process for generating businesses.
Chapter 4 Venture Capital It
presents an overview of the various elements related to
venture capital and unquoted companies.
Chapter 5 - Organizational Readiness
and Product Development It provides the main
keys to success and to reducing risk - a systematic
approach to determining need and purpose; assessing
barriers; and product and program design.
Chapter 6 - Communications and
Marketing It reinforces the need for strong
communication through planning and evaluation; use of the
Internet as a relationship management too; branding; and
marketing.
Chapter 7 - Team Building It
suggests ways to build a team to achieve organizational
business plans.
Chapter 8 - Summary It pulls
together the various elements of the process.
My Recommendation
-
Since more and
more not-for-profit organizations are exploring the idea
of diversifying their revenue sources by developing
businesses that either capitalize on their
organizational talents and expertise, or by starting
separate business enterprises, there is a definite need
to provide information and lessons from experience on
how to go about it.
-
For
not-for-profit organizations who wish to get a quick
snapshot of what this growing trends is all about and a
rudimentary introduction to how to go about it, this
monograph will be of some value.
-
To those who
are looking for more detailed specific guidance, I would
look for alternative publications.
Where the Publication is Available
To order this
publication, visit
http://www.csae.com Toll Free: 1 (800)
461-3608
 Donald Golob
is the Principal of Donald Golob Consulting, a
Vancouver-based firm specializing in Facilitation, Strategic Planning and
Training Services for Not-For-Profit Organizations Since 1995.
(604-988-3273).
This review was adapted and excerpted from Golob's
E-Mail Review© - a free e-mail review of books and
resources for not-for-profit organizations (Number 17,
Winter 2003)
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