Big Impact

Insights & Stories from America's Non-Profit Leaders

Big Impact: Insights & Stories from America's Non-Profit Leaders is about nonprofit leaders who have found solutions to some of our greatest, most vexing societal problems. These dynamic leaders are implementing solutions in their communities, around the U.S. and around the world. This book will explore the qualities these leaders possess, their profound insights on lessons learned, and the solutions they are implementing. We have interviewed nearly 50 leaders of foundations such as Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Annie E. Casey, Ford, B. Altman, Sy Syms, Skoll, San Francisco Community, Robin Hood, Jim Joseph, William & Flora Hewlett, Newman's Own, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, United Nations, and the Ms. Foundation for Women. We have also talked with leaders of organizations such as PBS, WNET, WNYC, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Independent Sector, Goodwill Industries International, 92Y, YMCA of the USA, Girl Scouts, United Way Worldwide, Share Our Strength, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, NYU, Bard College, Nature Conservancy, Wave Hill, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, NYC Opera, Freedom to Marry, KaBoom! and Do Something. The book combines our findings and recommendations from the interviews on what drives social change, along with some of the top interviews portraying compelling, successful social change leaders. We see this book as a way to amplify the leading voices of the nonprofit sector, to share the secrets of successful social change and to inspire readers to make change in their own communities. The primary audience for this book is people seeking knowledge and inspiration from leaders who have chosen to devote their lives to reducing inequities and creating opportunities in their communities, the US and the world. This includes corporate leaders and employees on nonprofit or foundation boards, philanthropists or social entrepreneurs investing in a new venture or establishing their own foundations, current or new CEOs or senior professionals serving a nonprofit or foundation. Nonprofit leaders will discover new ways to address shared challenges and learn that they are not alone. Philanthropists and social entrepreneurs will learn what is really working at both start-up and legacy organizations so that they can invest in what is really moving the needle. A secondary audience is young people, including millennials, who are thinking about careers in the nonprofit sector, or considering creating a new nonprofit or foundation. Yet another audience consists of nonprofit employees and volunteers that wish to learn from their leaders' triumphs and mistakes.