Non-profits are big business. According to a recent Johns Hopkins report, third-sector institutions in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Japan, the U.S. and Canada have been growing at an average rate that is twice the growth rate of their GDPs. Canada is home to the second largest non-profit workforce in the world, employing 2 million paid staff and contributing $112 billion to our economy each year. We are also recognized worldwide as an important generator of ideas and agent of social change.

Maytree, a Canadian foundation established in 1982, has long been immersed in the dialogue surrounding the growth of the non-profit sector. From its extensive network of non-profit, government and corporate-sector leaders, Alan Broadbent and Ratna Omidvar have amassed a collection of practical ideas for running non-profits.

As the sector expands to embrace new issues, there is increased pressure for accountability, relevancy and efficiency. Practitioners are expected to be experts in a variety of fields. Five Good Ideas offers information, strategies for action and management solutions that are easy to implement and will improve how organizations function. It is a testament to what can happen when people from a variety of backgrounds get together to share their skills and knowledge.