Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders: Using the Law to Achieve Your Mission

A reframing of the legal profession for nonlawyers aiming to lead nonprofits more effectively

Although the United States has the most robust nonprofit sector in the world, the rules governing it are convoluted and often paralyze those who are trying to change the status quo. Nonprofit leaders deserve rules that are clearly laid out, explaining what they can and should do to achieve their missions--rather than emphasizing only what is forbidden.

Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders offers a translation of the nonprofit legal framework into terms that can be more easily understood by nonlawyers. Schmidt provides a different lens through which nonprofit leaders can see more clearly how these laws can be more responsive to the changing needs of the nonprofit sector and of society.

This book shows nonprofit leaders, board members, and volunteers how nonprofit law relates to all aspects of nonprofit management.

Elizabeth M. Schmidt is a professor of practice at the School of Public Policy in the University of Massachusetts Amherst who specializes in nonprofits, social enterprises, and policy analysis. She is coauthor of Nonprofit Law: The Life Cycle of a Charitable Organization, 3rd Edition (2021).