You've gotta have heart: Advice from a former non-profit CEO

Photo by Siege N. Gin

Guest blogger Jamie Carayiannis is a rising senior at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and an intern with the Case Foundation.

Having previously served as CEO of the American Heart Association (AHA) for more than decade, Cass Wheeler has, needless to say, plenty of experience leading a successful nonprofit organization. In his new book, You’ve Gotta Have Heart, Wheeler writes of his experiences at the AHA and gives advice on how to “survive and thrive” in the non-profit sector.

The overall goal of the book: to show readers how they can increase the effectiveness (however they might define this) of a project or organization by 5% or more. You’ve Gotta Have Heart provides a guide for nonprofit success and addresses topics such as:

• how a non-profit can combine its mission with strategic management to better reach its goals;
• adopting a for-profit mentality to remain competitive and the necessity of innovation in maintaining appeal to future donors and volunteer;
• how to gain, retain and motivate employees and volunteers; and
• how to create successful partnerships and become a non-profit “partner of choice.”

Unsurprisingly, You’ve Gotta Have Heart has received great reviews:

Cass Wheeler’s prescriptions for an organization’s success—clarity of mission, strong core values, ambitious but realistic targets, and focus—seem so common-sensical that you wonder why more nonprofits don’t follow them. But they will, if their CEOs read this lucid and practical guide, based on Wheeler’s stellar leadership of the American Heart Association. ---Paul Brest, President, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Tags: american heart association cass wheeler nonprofit effectiveness