Harvey B. Chess's years in the nonprofit sector have usually involved the give and take between organizations with grants to give and nonprofits that compete to get those grants. This began in the original Federal War On Poverty and culminated with his highly regarded, well travelled workshop for nonprofit grant seekers. In between he was consultant to several grant making foundations and Program Officer for a large Community Foundation. The breadth of his experience allowed him to settle into a theme of challenging people to re-examine the basis for their nonprofit organizations' existence, always with an eye on strengthening them - and their strategies for pursuing needed resources. Much of what he has come to learn, practice and value forms the basis for his less nomadic existence as the author of the revised edition of his book. He considers this book his legacy in gratitude for a lifetime among so many remarkable souls seeking to improve their communities at the grassroots.
Harvey Chess represents a distinctive voice apart from the burgeoning grant seeking industry. He's not selling magical formulas...what you get here is invaluable practical advice...Hedelights in challenging conventional wisdom...and keeping it real. Tom David, consultant in the craft of grantmaking, philanthropic strategy, evaluation, and organizational learning Great material. Great insights-practices that make a difference. Your sections at the end on what to avoid and what to do are excellent. The content is great-if I was teaching nonprofir administration, Iwould recommend using this book. Rich Callahan, Professor, Univ. of San Francisco; Editor, International Journal of Public Leadership This book conveys your commitment to the nonprofit sector and your great humor throughout. It really is a book anyone in the nonprofit sector should read. Jan Stohr, retired director, Nonprofit Resource Center, Sacramento, CA