Venture Forth! The Essential Guide to Starting a Money-Making Business in Your Nonprofit Organization

“Venture Forth! offers a clear, no-buts way to negotiate the minefields in the nonprofit world. It's sincere, smart, and helpful.” -- Paul Newman, actor, philanthropist, & founder of "Newman's Own"

by Rolfe Larson, Published by Fieldstone Alliance.

Nonprofit business development is fast becoming a popular approach to generating revenue for nonprofits at a time when funds are increasingly scarce. This publication will be extremely useful to nonprofit leaders who are seeking to diversify their funding base and decrease their reliance on donors.

This book was written by one of our firm's associates, Rolfe Larson, and is the leading publication to help nonprofits to consider earned-income ventures and then to plan and implement an earned-income venture in a step-by-step, realistic and flexible fashion.

This book is useful for nonprofit leaders who are considering a new venture or seeking to improve an already-established venture.

Table of Contents

Introduction

• What is a Venture?
• Why Pursue Ventures?

• Who Should Pursue Ventures?
• How to Use This Book

Chapter One: Venture Development Overview

• Nonprofit Ventures: An Oxymoron?
• Venture Benefits
• Venture Limitations
• How to Start a Venture

Chapter Two: Prospecting for Ventures

• Step 1: Get Organized
• Step 2: Conduct a Venture Audit
• Step 3: Brainstorm and Screen Venture Ideas
• Chapter Two Summary

Chapter Three: Testing the Feasibility of Your Venture Ideas

• Step 4: Perform Quick Market Tests
• Step 5: Do Feasibility Market Research
• Step 6: Prepare Feasibility Financial Analysis
• Chapter Three Summary

Chapter Four: Business Planning

• Step 7: Write a Business Plan
• Chapter Four Summary

Conclusion

• Focus on the Basics
• Find the Right Venture Champions
• Review Marketing Strategies Often
• Measure Performance Quantitatively
• Get Outside Help
• Compare Your Plan with Reality

Appendices

• Appendix A: Bibliography
• Appendix B: Internet Resources
• Appendix C: Internet Research Links
• Appendix D: Sample Financial Plan for Nature Center Gift Shop
• Appendix E: Unrelated Business Income Tax
• Appendix F: Calculating Breakeven Using Percentage of Sales
• Appendix G: Blank Worksheets

Useful Nonprofit Publications Written by Members of Our Firm

• Field Guide to Developing, Operating and Restoring Your Nonprofit Board
• Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation
• Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision for Nonprofit Staff
• Field Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Marketing and Evaluation
• The above four guidebooks are offered together at a discount in our Nonprofit Capacity Building Toolkit (sm).
•  
• Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development With Nonprofits
  (book is for consultants and internal leaders)

Other Publisher's Publication for Nonprofit Organizations

• Strengthening Nonprofit Performance: A Funder's Guide to Capacity Building
• Bookkeeping Basics: What Every Nonprofit Bookkeeper Needs to Know
• Coping With Cutbacks: Nonprofit Guide to Success When Times Are Tight
• The Accidental Techie: Supporting, Managing, and Maximizing
  Your Nonprofit's Technology

To Order "Venture Forth!"

• $35.00 each. Published by Fieldstone Alliance, March 2002, 272 pages.
• See To Order and Quickly Receive Your Publication

To Read About Our Firm's Nonprofit Business Development Services

Our firm is one of the world's leaders in providing consultation and trainings for nonprofit business development.
Learn more about our services.