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Horatio Alger Association Releases Investing in People and Communities Highlighting Charitable Best Practices
Non-profit Organization Provides Guide to Excellence in Governance and Management

WASHINGTON, October 14, 2010 – The Horatio Alger Association is proud to announce the release of “Investing in People and Communities,” a guide to best practices for effective and mission-centered leadership of charitable institutions. Authored by Brian Foss, writer and consultant to CEOs of non-profit organizations, the book is a reflection of 35 years of observing and managing practices by national and local charities.

Investing in People and Communities provides those who serve on the board of directors of a charity, volunteers and leaders of non-profit organizations, foundations, and corporate giving programs, with a guide of best practices for effective governance and leadership.

 “Our experience has been that organizations that are mission-centered and highly-focused are the organizations that ultimately achieve results worthy of the time and financial investment of their donors and governance leaders,” said David L. Sokol, chairman of the Horatio Alger Association. “It is our goal that this guide will serve as a valuable tool for any of us who invest time and money with charities that are near and dear to us to ensure that best practices and good governance are enacted at those charities.”

“This monograph has been written to raise questions and stimulate new thinking about the roles of boards of directors and staff of nonprofit organizations,” said author Brian Foss. “The ultimate goal is to increase the effectiveness and accountability of charities that serve people and communities.”

The book gives an overview of the important roles of non-profit organizations; the critical leadership roles of boards and staff in enhancing the effectiveness of charities; starting one’s own non-profit; giving and volunteering at organizations and raising charitable children – among other topics.

Additionally, the book concludes with the stories of the eleven living past presidents of the Board of Directors of the Horatio Alger Association showcasing the broad range of philanthropic and voluntary leadership roles to which they serve and how charity has affected their lives.

Investing in People and Communities is available for download at http://horatioalger.org/pdfs/ImageInvestinginPeopleandCommunities.pdf.

About the Horatio Alger Association
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans continues to fulfill its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association offers three annual scholarship programs: the National Scholarship Program, state scholarship programs, and graduate grants. The association will have awarded more than $87 million in scholarships through 2012 to at-risk students determined to earn college degrees. The association is a Combined Federal Campaign participant; # 77062. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

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