Why does the private sector tend not to regard nonprofits as equals but like second-class enterprises? Years of listening to derisive comments have led me to the conclusion that the reason is a pervasive misconception about nonprofits: our private sector colleagues believe that nonprofits do not have to compete in the marketplace, that nonprofits do not have to compete to

In a prior commentary, “Overhead –It’s More Important Than You Think”, I promised a follow-up on the implications of using the term ‘overhead’ versus its predecessor term ‘indirect costs’. This is the promised follow-up. ‘Indirect cost’ was the term in use when I began working in nonprofits in the mid-1960’s. It incorporated three important yet simple concepts: 1. What constituted indirect costs were easily

‘Sustainability’ appears to have become not only one but the universal objective of much of the charitable nonprofit sector’s attention and effort: nonprofits want it, and funders want those they support to achieve it. The hype would suggest that becoming sustainable is the panacea for our sector. But is it really a good idea or is it just the latest snake oil? Let’s assume