Five must read books for young people interested in nonprofits and social justice (and a gift for you)


Posted by ajlovesya

Yes I said books.  Remember those? :)

While I have learned so much from blogging, networking, and working in the nonprofit sector, the following books provide ongoing guidance, insight, and support for me as I develop my career.  This list includes books that offer hands-on tips and strategies on how to define and do well in my career as well as books that explore challenges in justice, privilege, and living with conviction.

Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time by Paul Loeb
Visit Soul of a Citizen

It is easy to get sucked into the day to day grind of working.  It’s even easier to believe that your work wont make a difference given the enormous problems we face. However,  we tend to ignore the real threats to justice that happen not in far away places or on grand scales, but in our own communities and in our minds. Now, more than ever, is the best time to be an activist yet we have to claim it and be willing talk and connect with each other on a more humane level.  How do we figure out what we stand for and, day in and day out, truly stand for it? This book is full of inspirational stories that give me the courage I need to keep moving forward and the small important steps I can take to make a difference beyond my job.

Nonprofit Career Guide:  How to Land a Job that Makes a Difference by Shelly Cryer
Visit: Nonprofit Career Guide

When you say nonprofit the images that pop into people’s heads are soup kitchens, after school programs, and puppies.  While these nonprofits provide crucial support to the communities they serve, our inability to see the entire sector beyond these organizations masks the sheer magnitude and diversity of the sector.  Employing over 13% of the nation and worth over a trillion dollars the nonprofit sector is home to many people with different interests, passions, and skills. There is truly a place for everyone-the trick is finding where you belong. This book explores the nine different types of nonprofits, skills needed to thrive, hiring trends, steps for figuring out what you want, and more.

How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career by Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris
Visit: Nonprofit Rockstar Tour

So you have the job….now what?  Unfortunately, I thought once I landed my first job a path would just fall into place.  That didn’t happen and even now I’m constantly reshuffling the deck as I figure out what I want to do.  With humor, resources, a variety of voices from young people kicking butt in the field (including yours truly!) this book tackles a variety of issues facing young people who want to thrive in the sector: from building a support network to finding professional development opportunities.

Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership: A Guide for Organizing in Changing Times by Berit Lakey, George Lakey, Rod Napier, and Janison Robinson
Visit Training for Change (book available for free download)

I have to admit I didnt start thinking of myself as a leader until recently.  The reason is simple:  I didnt have a title.  Yet the more I work the more I realize that Noticing and acting on challenges is a sign of leadership and our narrow definition excludes enormous amounts of potential.  This book explores the various challenges to leadership–from technical issues like space and meetings to more complex issues like defining leadership and including different voices.  This book helped me see different kinds of leadership and the internal problems that arise when we have to go beyond passion to action and inclusion.  Definitely great for folks who want to start or run a nonprofit!

The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism by Claire Guadiani
Visit The Greater Good

Philanthropy isnt just nice, nor is just something to do when you want your name on a building (in fact the author argues that these attitudes limit the power of philanthropy).  Instead, philanthropy supports our nation in very necessary and tangible ways, and has done so for decades. The challenges that face philanthropy–dwindling funds, debt, lack of community involvement–go beyond shrinking a nonprofit’s budget and actually threaten the livelihoods of our communities.  This book challenged my understanding of philanthropy and strengthened my commitment to the sector.

And my gift to you.

I’m building my social justice/nonprofit career library and I hope you are too!  To help, I would love to send you any book off this list.

Just add a comment below sharing what book you want and why by Friday December 17th 5pm EST.  Three winners will be announced Saturday December 18th at 10am EST and selected randomly using random.org.

This list is by no means exhaustive–while writing it I thought of other books I have found incredibly useful.  Yet I think these books provide a useful foundation.  So please feel free to share books not on this list!


33 Responses to Five must read books for young people interested in nonprofits and social justice (and a gift for you)

  1. Hi Allison! I would love to get my hands on Rosetta Thurman’s book. I’ve been following her for over a year now (that’s how I found you!) and really enjoy reading her insights and following her professional growth.

  2. What a great list. I’d love to read The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism. I’d never heard of it prior to reading this post and as a business professional, this theme really interests me. Hope I win!

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  4. Soul of a Citizen: Living with conviction in a Cynical Time – What a powerful book. I am involved with an organization that is helping financially-disable student-athletes locate funding / scholarships to go to college, while saving them from making imprudent decisions that cripple their futures. Art Levine from Columbia University sums up Soul of A Citizen as , “A much-needed call for community involvement”. Boy, I’m looking forward to reading this “must-read” book.

  7. I would love to win “Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job that Makes a Difference”. As a individual trying to break into the sector, I would love stepping stone! :)

  8. allison! great idea!

    i’d love to read “The Greater Good” as i’m interested in continued learning about the intersection between government and nonprofit sectors through philanthropic endeavors.

  11. I would be grateful to get the Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job that Makes a Difference by Shelly Cryer. I could definitely use some guidance on how to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector!

  13. Hi Allison, what a great contest! I’d love a copy of: Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership: A Guide for Organizing in Changing Times

    I’ve already read two of the books on your list- and I must say that Soul of a Citizen is ABSOLUTELY amazing. Probably my favorite social change/activism book- so many useful tips in there! The book has got SOUL. I’ve also read Rosetta’s book!

    So looks like we’re on the same page here :D I’d like the leadership book because similar to you, I’m an entry level nonprofit professional and I don’t think of myself as a leader. But someday down the road, I’d like to develop leadership and management skills necessary to run an organization, top to bottom. It sounds like the perfect book to help me achieve my next steps!

  14. Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job that Makes a Difference

    I do a lot of work with high school and college students through service leadership programs and would love to share some of the ideas and facts in this book with them. Instead of just telling them my story of how and why I decided on my nonprofit career, I think it would mean more coming from a “true” source. They’re eager to find ways to make a difference but just need some help and direction in finding the best way to do that!

    Thanks so much for this list!!

  15. Would love to read “How to become a Nonprofit Rockstar.” 50 ways! I like that this book is about strategies and OPTIONS. Though my work is focused on improving professional development opportunities for other, I would love to reflect on my practice and professional growth.

  17. How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career by Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris

    I’d love to and have long dreamed of starting a non-profit career, and this book seems to provide insight into just that.

  18. Thanks for the post Allison! I’d love to read Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time to figure out what I stand for be inspired by stories of making a difference.

  21. I’d love to get “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career” by Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris. I’m looking to learn how to develop myself and my career within the nonprofit sector

  22. I’d like, “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar,” because folks who work for nonprofits are all rock stars in my book, Rosetta and Trista are rockstars, and the sector needs more rockstars, so I’d like to learn how to be a rockstar and then I’d like to share the book with other prospective rockstars who come across my path. :-)

    Keep up the great blog, Allison.

  23. I love the idea of building a nonprofit leader resource library! And what an awesome contest, Allison! I’d love to receive and read –

    “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career” by Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris or “Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership: A Guide for Organizing in Changing Times” by Berit Lakey, George Lakey, Rod Napier, and Janison Robinson. Both books would come in handy with the work I do on the leadership team for Jolkona (http://www.jolkona.org). Looking forward to it!

  24. Allison-

    What a great contest, and yes you are leader! Where would the Alliance be without you? By the way, your blog is always a great read.

    I’m interested in Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership: A Guide for Organizing in Changing Times. Wish me luck!

    Thanks,
    T

  26. Hi Allison! Wow, all of these books look great–thanks for bringing them to our attention in this great post! If I had to pick one book to go after, it’d have to be the Non-Profit Career Guide: How to Land a Job that Makes a Difference. As a recent college grad looking to break into the public sector in the areas of education and/or the arts, I’d find this book immensely helpful! And would love to share its ideas with friends who are either nonprofit-skeptical, or who are dissatisfied with their current situations and might already be open to thinking about the public sector!

  27. I would love “Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job that Makes a Difference” by Shelly Cryer. I’ll be graduating in April and hoping to enter the non-profit world and that seems like a great place to start!

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