The Greatness Factor: An Analysis of Non-Profit Organizations

Abstract

In the current dilemma of whether non-profits should be structured more or less like a for-profit organization, there are valid points to either side of the argument. By their very nature, these organizations are different when you look at mission, structure, funding sources, tax reporting, and other components. Because of this, experts like Jim Collins (business consultant and author) argue that in order to be great, organizations in the social sectors have to follow different rules or have a different focus than those in the business sector. However, there are also people like Dan Pallotta (non-profit entrepreneur and author) who say that if non-profit organizations adopted more business-minded strategies like advertising, comparable compensation for employees, long term planning and risk taking, they would be more successful. This paper uses personal experience and input from non-profit leaders in the community to analyze both of these perspectives to determine the best way for a non-profit to be run in order to be successful.