The Art of Doing Good by Charles Bronfman & Jeffrey Solomon - Book review

The Art of Doing Good

Where Passion Meets Action

By: Charles Bronfman, Jeffrey Solomon

Published: September 11, 2012
Format:Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1118264355
ISBN-13: 978-1118264355
Publisher: Jossey-Bass








"This book has a fairly audacious goal: to teach you how to change the world. Not through warfare, politics, or technology, but through a unique social invention, the nonprofit, that is intended to do good on a grand scale", write Chairman of The Andrea & Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc., Charles Bronfman; and President of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, Jeffrey Solomon, in their insightful and societal transforming book The Art of Doing Good: Where Passion Meets Action. The authors describe how to establish and manage a successful nonprofit organization, maintain its drive and spirit, overcome the many challenges along the way, and to change the world in the process.



Charles Bronfman (photo left) and Jeffrey Solomon understand that social entrepreneurs and even long time nonprofit professionals may have the all consuming drive to change the world, but may lack the experience to manage a new organization. The authors fill in that knowledge gap through sharing their own wealth of experience, combined with that of eighteen very innovative and successful social entrepreneurs.

The authors recognize that any new organization, regardless of its mission and membership commitment, will face challenges of management and leadership. By sharing the real world advice and experience, of both themselves and others, the authors present a blueprint for establishing and running a world changing nonprofit organization.



Jeffrey Solomon (photo left) and Charles Bronfman know from personal experience the power of a nonprofit organization to make real and positive change in the world. The authors also recognize that passion and and drive are not enough to achieve the goals and mission of the nonprofit. Whether the nonprofit is a fresh initiative, or an existing organization seeking to refresh its journey, the advice offered is both inspirational and practical.

The authors present their guidance in a useful and logical manner to aid the social entrepreneur in achieving their overall mission goals. The book is divided into four overarching sections, with each one containing chapters providing ready to apply concepts for each aspect of successful nonprofit management. The four parts of the book are as follows:

* Sources of inspiration
* Bringing your idea to life
* Managing the organization
* Resources

For me, the power of the book is how Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon combine a powerful theoretical background for social entrepreneurs, with real world proven advice for starting and managing a successful nonprofit organization. The authors present their own experiences with world class association management, along with eighteen other visionary social entrepreneurs who add their guidance to the book. The authors include all aspects of establishing and guiding a nonprofit in the carrying out of its mission.

The authors provide additional real value to the book with the inclusion of a comprehensive resources section. This indispensable portion of the book offers more sites and organizations from which to find more information on every aspect of nonprofit management. The short biographical sketches of the eighteen guest contributors offers more depth to their advice and vision as social entrepreneurs as well.

I highly recommend the visionary and inspirational book The Art of Doing Good: Where Passion Meets Action by Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon, to any aspiring or current social entrepreneurs, nonprofit organization managers, board members, and any one seeking a real world based guide to building and maintaining a successful and effective nonprofit organization. This valuable book will help you transform the world and change the lives of real people for the better through the effective implementation of your organizational mission.