Introduction Nonprofit organizations differ greatly in their levels of achievement. The disparities are striking even among those that operate in the same fields, address the same or parallel needs, and share the same goals. Some advance consistently, year after year, and they increasingly achieve more of their purposes. They obtain greater financial and volunteer support, and attract and retain outstanding professional staffs. They move ahead creatively and dynamically.
Few organizations are satisfied with their status of achievements.
The nonprofit sector is not complacent. Even the most productive organizations do not rest on their oars. They must know that they are not meeting all the needs, that some of what they do should be done better, and that services that are excellent today may be outmoded in the near future because of advancing knowledge and skills. They constantly appraise their services and results, their strengths and weaknesses, the emerging challenges and opportunities. They press to do more, and to do it better.