Best Nonprofit Organizations & Charities Books of 2026

The revised edition of "Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't" by Verne Harnish is a practical guide for scaling any for-purpose or for-profit organization. The book focuses on the four major decisions every company must get right: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash. It includes a series of new One-Page tools, including the famous One-Page Strategic Plan and Rockefeller Habits Execution Checklist™. More than 80,000 firms worldwide have used these tools to scale their organizations successfully. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to grow their business.

The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib is a must-read for any business owner looking to grow their business. Dib's breakthrough approach to marketing simplifies the process of creating a marketing plan into just one page, making it easier and faster for entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level. The book offers valuable insights into how to get new customers, how to make more profit from existing customers, and how to close sales without being pushy. It also provides a step-by-step guide to creating a personalized marketing plan. Overall, this book is a game-changer for small and medium-sized businesses looking to succeed in a crowded market.

She Thinks Like a Boss is a must-read for women who want to become effective leaders in the workplace. Author Jemma Roedel offers practical tips on how to develop self-esteem, sharpen trust, and improve communication skills. The book also addresses imposter syndrome, a common issue among women in leadership. Roedel shares insights from successful women in leadership and provides easy-to-follow steps for readers to become effective leaders themselves. This book is a valuable resource for anyone new to leadership or looking to manage a team more effectively.

This book, "Start A 501c3 Nonprofit That Doesn’t Ruin Your Life: How to Legally Structure Your Nonprofit to Avoid I.R.S. Trouble, Lawsuits, Financial Scandals & More! (Nonprofit Law)" by nonprofit attorney Audrey K. Chisholm, is an easy-to-read guide on how to start and legally structure a nonprofit without running into legal issues such as lawsuits, financial scandals, and IRS trouble. The book provides valuable insights for nonprofit founders, board members, employees, donors, and community partners. It includes 225 pages of guidance and can save readers thousands of dollars in legal fees. Overall, this book is an essential read for anyone looking to start or already running a nonprofit.

The Fastest Tortoise is a captivating read about Ken Hersh's life journey and how he forged his path to success, both personally and professionally. Ken's story is full of life lessons, from pioneering an investment methodology in the energy industry to creating a culture where colleagues and staff felt like family. Through his personal and professional philosophies, Ken demonstrates how to approach a volatile world and thrive in it. This book is an excellent source of inspiration, motivation, and confidence for leaders and entrepreneurs of all stripes.

From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth by Darren Walker is a timely and thought-provoking book that challenges readers to rethink philanthropy as a tool for achieving economic, social, and political justice. The book offers a bold vision for philanthropy in the twenty-first century and emphasizes the need for moral courage, humility, and an unwavering commitment to democratic values and institutions. The contributions from an array of thinkers, activists, and leaders, including Ai-jen Poo, Laurene Powell Jobs, David Rockefeller Jr., and Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, make this book an essential read for anyone interested in business ethics and social justice.

The Little Book of Boards is a concise and easy-to-read guide that provides a conversational style approach to lead new board members through the basics of being on a board, how meetings work, and what’s expected between meetings. This book is perfect for any new board member or an entire board that is feeling lost. In addition, it offers several in-depth resources for understanding Roberts Rules of Order, bylaws, committee structures, board leadership, and much more. The book has helped thousands of boards improve how they work together for their nonprofit, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to be an effective board member.

Invitation to Impact is a personal and practical guide to mobilizing local solutions to global problems. Wendy H. Steele shares her story of creating Impact100, a grassroots organization that democratizes women’s roles in philanthropy. Through inspirational anecdotes from regional Impact100 chapters and current research on philanthropy patterns, Wendy demonstrates that women have an incredible capacity to transform the world for the better. This book provides a practical and clear path to light the way towards community transformation. Overall, Invitation to Impact is an inspiring read that highlights the power of collective generosity and the impact it can have on the world.

The Nonprofit Kit For Dummies is a comprehensive guide that equips readers with the necessary tools and strategies to start or strengthen their nonprofit organization. From recruiting the right board members to online fundraising and marketing, the book covers everything one needs to know to improve their management practices, raise more money, and plan more creatively. What sets this book apart is its supplementary online resources, including expertly written organization plans, financial procedure outlines, and guides. Overall, Nonprofit Kit For Dummies is a must-read for anyone looking to make a difference in their community through nonprofit work.

Achieving Excellence in Fundraising is a comprehensive and practical guide for mission-based fundraising. This 5th edition offers timely and compelling topics such as crowdfunding, donor-advised funds, and fundraising for social advocacy. Written by faculty, alumni, and associates of the prestigious Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the book provides research-based strategies to enhance the success of fundraising efforts. It also includes discussion questions, application exercises, and research-based recommendations. Overall, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising is an essential source of information for anyone in the fundraising space.