Understanding How Nonprofit Groups Age

By Caroline Preston

Navigating the Organizational Lifecycle: A Capacity-Building Guide for Nonprofit Leaders, by Paul M. Connolly, argues that charities, like humans, pass through different stages of development as they grow and age. Mr. Connolly, senior vice president at the consulting firm TCC Group, describes the challenges associated with each phase and describes how nonprofit executives can help their organizations reach maturity---and avoid stagnation and decline.