Managing As a Mission ─ Nonprofit Managing for Sustainable Change

Managing as a Mission pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a nonprofit manager by making the case that managing as a reflection of the organizational mission – the cornerstone of any nonprofit – can bring about the change nonprofits were created to achieve: a better world for all. The book contains real-world examples, interview excerpts from nonprofit managers and directors, and a series of self-reflection and organization-wide tools to develop managers and managing as a mirror of the mission.

Themes within the book include: a discussion of the history of nonprofit missions; management scope, tasks and approaches as well as values, relationship and trust; and creating organizational structures and interactions that mirror the organizational mission.

This book is crafted from interviews with nonprofit managers and directors and the writings of martin Buber, Peter Drucker, Shalom Schwartz and others. It also includes exercises to help nonprofit managers successfully manage as mission. The book is written in an informal first-person style, utilizing humor that will allow the reader to see themselves in the examples and stories.

Lori Heninger, PhD is an experienced senior manager and leader who has succeeded in moving organizations to their next level of achievement and growth. She has over 30 years experience in both non-for-profit and for-profit businesses. She is currently the CEO of LRH Advisory Group, a consulting firm specializing in non-profit leadership and management, board and organizational structures, networks and alliances, and team-building with international and US-based perspectives. Their mission focuses on the creation of effective, efficient organizational structures, advocacy and campaigns, managing to the organizational mission, development of leadership skills, and the creation of strong, united, mission-driven teams.

Prior to that, Ms. Heninger was the Head of Office/UN Liaison at Plan International with responsibilities for oversight of the company’s advocacy and strategy work at the UN in New York. Ms. Heninger holds a PhD in Social Welfare from City University, New York; a Master of Social Work from Columbia University and BA in Education from Kean College, Union, NJ.