USC Business Students Hear How Nonprofits Are In The Business Of Helping People

I was privileged to be invited to speak to a class of USC business students last night by a friend, Ralph Plumb, who is the former CEO of Union Rescue Mission. Another good friend, Larry Adamson, the CEO of Midnight Mission, also spoke.

The class was a Social Entrepreneurship course designed to train students to approach not-for-profit management in a more entrepreneurial manner.

I spoke on how non-profit management differs from traditional business approaches. The idea that we collaborate more than compete, that we (as nonprofits) seek to give and share rather than take.

I also talked about how key business principles are paramount in the operation of nonprofits. The idea of developing a cost-effectiveness approach to operating programs, investing in staff, technology, and communications. The idea that strategic partnerships and creative marketing are essential if we are to survive.

I also shared how two books have influenced my approach to nonprofit management--"Good To Great" and "The Tipping Point."

It is so important for not-for-profit agencies to “marry” the principles of non-profit management with business management in order to operate effectively.

In a competing and high-paced world of MTV, ESPN, and iPods, the only way we (as nonprofits) are going to capture the attention of supporters—especially the next generation of charity supporters—is to change the way we operate programs, and change the way we create and project our message of hope.

With the thousands of people floundering on America’s streets, we nonprofits must change our worldview, our corporate cultures, and our strategic planning in order to seriously address societal issues like homelessness.

Larry Adamson shared how his 92-year-old homeless program acknowledges the importance of change, even though it is difficult to overcome corporate traditions. Acknowledgement is the first step. PATH constantly struggles with change, even at the young age of 22.

Can we nonprofit homeless agencies make the changes necessary to effectively address homelessness?

I certainly hope so… for the sake of all the people on our streets.