How will investing in nonprofit Human Resource infrastructure promote stronger leadership, quality staff retention, and sustainable community support?

It is no question that the nonprofit sector lacks the internal infrastructure that the government and for-profit sectors have built. Most of the time nonprofit agencies are looked down upon if their program ratio does not show extremely low overhead costs. Many donors view funds spent in the areas of administration as wasteful and taking away from the mission.

“It's time to stop obsessing about overhead and start focusing on progress. Change charity, and charity can change the world.” -Dan Pallotta

The truth is, by not accommodating internal growth in areas such as Human Resources, the agency will suffer more in the long term and be unable to serve the mission as effectively. I argue that small investments in strategic areas of nonprofit Human Resource Departments will assist agencies in being more supported by their communities, receiving higher funding, and attracting higher quality staff members.

The four recommendations to implement Human Resource Best Practices are as follows:

• Recommendation 1- Nonprofit HR and finance departments should accurately report on program and overhead costs annually on the 990 forms. This ensures an accurate picture of all organizational required…

Welcome to a new ASU Lodestar Center Blog series, “Get to Know the Lodestar Center!” We’d like to provide our readers with a peek into what we do each day to accomplish our mission by introducing members of the faculty and staff via short interviews and conversations. Meet the folks who are here to help you and your nonprofit succeed!

Lili Wang, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Nonprofit Leadership and Management in ASU's School of Community Resources and Development. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on such diverse subjects as Program Evaluation & Information Management, International NGOs, and Philanthropy. Her work on nonprofit studies has appeared in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Nonprofit Management & Leadership, Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, and Public Management Review. We're thrilled to have such accomplished faculty on board to help our nonprofit management students reach their full potential!

Meet Dr. Wang...

How would you describe yourself in 5-10 words?

I am a faculty (associate professor) of ASU.

What is your main area of interest?

My main research interest is in individual and institutional philanthropy.

Any secondary interests?…

The weekend of September 17th-18th, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Student Association (NLASA) held its annual retreat at R-C Scout Ranch in in Payson, AZ. 32 students attended to discuss and identify goals for the upcoming year, build community, and eat s’mores around the bonfire!

The students, all ASU undergraduates interested in nonprofit sector careers, worked together to develop their vision for the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance at ASU and grow together as members of the local and national NLA community.

Amy Schwabenlender, Vice President of Community Impact for Valley of the Sun United Way, presented this year's theme: Innovate, and shared her experience in the nonprofit field. The group was also joined by an NLA (formerly American…

Welcome to a new ASU Lodestar Center Blog series, “Get to Know the Lodestar Center!” We’d like to provide our readers with a peek into what we do each day to accomplish our mission by introducing members of the faculty and staff via short interviews and conversations. Meet the folks who are here to help you and your nonprofit succeed!

Patricia F. Lewis, ACFRE, serves as Sr. Professional-in-Residence at the ASU Lodestar Center. She is the longest-serving employee at the Lodestar Center with the exception of the Executive Director, Dr. Robert Ashcraft. She brings to the Center a wealth of knowledge and a wide array of experience in the nonprofit sector and beyond.

Meet Pat...

You are a Senior Professional in Residence here at the ASU Lodestar Center. What does that entail?

This is a very unique position. The overall purpose of the position is as a bridge between academia and practice, to bring professional experience to the academic area. There are many ways to do that. The Lodestar Center has two -- Anne Byrne is the other Professional-in-Residence who works with me. We are responsible for the Ask the Nonprofit Specialists program, in which we answer questions anybody may have about the nonprofit sector and philanthropy. I also work on curriculum development for our professional development courses and…

Welcome to a new ASU Lodestar Center Blog series, “Get to Know the Lodestar Center!” We’d like to provide our readers with a peek into what we do each day to accomplish our mission by introducing members of the faculty and staff via short interviews and conversations. Meet the folks who are here to help you and your nonprofit succeed!

Last time we introduced Anne, a new lecturer in the School of Community Resources & Development and coordinator of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and the Certified Nonprofit Professional Credential.

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) is a student association for undergraduates interested in nonprofit careers. The NLA program was originally founded as the American Humanics program at Arizona State University in 1980 with the support of the Phoenix Rotary Club 100 and local nonprofit organizations. They recognized the need for highly skilled leaders in the nonprofit sector. American Humanics officially changed its name to the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in 2011. Through the dedication of students and the support of the community, ASU has evolved into the nation's leader among the more than 50 universities affiliated with the…