The Nonprofit Entrepreneur: Creating Ventures to Earn Income. Ed. by Edward Skloot. The Foundation Centre, 1988. pp. 170, including index.

This collection of essays provides analysis and hands-on guidance for the nonprofit entrepreneur wishing to mount successful enterprise without compromising mission and mandate of the organization. Authors provide practical, meaningful examples and data to illustrate a variety of concepts.

Arrick, Ellen. "Financing the Enterprise." pp. 97-120.

A chapter "aimed at helping the nonprofit entrepreneur to see his or her enterprise the way that lenders and investors do." Discusses the concepts of risk and return, 'how-to's' for building risk profiles, includes a discussion of the types of financing available to ventures and their appropriateness in specific situations. Outlines key steps in the process of financing the non-profit venture, from assessment of organizational capacity, to modification of the business plan in response to criticism.

Haycock, Nancy E. "Stepping Out into the Marketplace: The Pitfalls of Earned Income for the Small Nonprofit." pp. 147-162.

Examines the dangers of earned income for small nonprofit agencies arising through financial pressures or gaps in service. Identifies basic issues in creating successful earned income ventures, and uses case studies as illustrative examples.

Hopkins, Bruce R,. "The Legal Context of Nonprofit Enterprise." pp. 11-26.

Summarizes the legal context in which enterprises by nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are created and flourish. Discusses and defines (from an American perspective) a variety of taxation issues nonprofit organizations must consider: exemption and its effects, operational and organizational tests for business, income rules and "tests" for nonprofits. The concepts and rationale underlying such rules is discussed, as are the legal reporting requirements for taxable and exempted income. The final section covers the use of subsidiary organizations by NPOs for tax relief purposes.

Smith, Steven Rathgeb, and Lipsky, Michael. Nonprofits for Hire: The Welfare State in the Age of Contracting. Harvard University Press.: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1993. pp. 292, including index.

This book explains "how contracting has contributed to the expansion of the service state and facilitated greater fairness and higher standards in some service areas." It also charts the changing face of the nonprofit sector in an era of government emphasis on fiscal responsibility.

"Contracting for Services in the Welfare State" pp. 3-19.

Examines the role nonprofit organizations (NPOs) play in society: their part in solving social problems, and their interaction with government and politics. This chapter explains the mutual dependence that exists between government and NPOs.

The Scope of Nonprofit Organizations outlines the economic, geographic and social boundaries and concerns that NPOs must deal with in their role as government-contracted social service providers.

Issues for the Welfare State focusses on historical and present-day issues and concerns faced by contractors, consumers, and government when considering service delivery: giving state power to private providers; the health and well-being of the voluntary sector (does its distinctiveness from government agencies matter in the provision of services?); differences between government and NPOs as to what constitutes proper and effective service delivery, and the implications of those differences for securing government funding. Also includes a summary of the rationale behind the "contracting regime" that currently exists in the U.S. social service sector.

"Nonprofit Organizations and Community" pp. 20-40.

Examines the ways in which society provides social assistance and places them in the context of government, community and market responsibilities.

Nonprofits as Manifestations of Community defines the term 'community' and describes its significant qualities as they relate to nonprofit service delivery and the formation of public policy. The legalities of defining community and its importance for action on a political and community level are noted. The theory that community organizations are links between citizens and government is explained. The roles (whether voluntary or executive in nature) of individuals in these groups is discussed at length.

Community and the Theory of Nonprofit Organizations explores the theory that communities possess the resources to solve their own problems, and the difficulties that this presents for service delivery in the age of "contract for service". The theory behind the existence, need for, and reliance upon nonprofit organizations as service providers is explained, using the economic theory of 'market failure' as a departure point.

Towards a Political Explanation of Nonprofit Organizations uses case examples to demonstrate how the calculation of costs and benefits to individuals shapes and creates the nonprofit sector. This section further expands on the advantages of the nonprofit form, and provides a historical background to the success of, and need for non-profit groups. Societal expectation of NPOs are briefly summarized and the chapter closes by introducing the three types of NPO and their origins: traditional, government sponsored and those that respond to unmet community needs.