Author: Gary Bernstein

ISBN: 978-0-9974924-3-9

About the Book:

The book is especially suited for students studying sports and recreation management within business or social work focused courses, as well as students seeking an overview of sport management principles within recreation or leisure study programs. Nonprofit Recreation and Sport Organizations: Principles and Practices in Leadership and Management delivers viable and attractive career alternatives in sports, recreation and leisure management. This text will educate and expand the reader’s knowledge of the many career choices and options that exist for leisure, recreation and sport administrators in the nonprofit world. It will provide excellent direction and guidance for the sports and recreation manager and will help professionally prepare the reader in their pursuit of best practices. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of management and their practical applications to sport, leisure and recreation organizations in the nonprofit sector.

The nonprofit sector is filled with meaningful agencies and talented professionals that provide thoughtful, worthwhile and caring services and programs to their clienteles in their respective communities. Join me on this journey as we explore a possible new direction and option for you as you pursue your vocation. This book grows out of a void of available resources and texts that address the needs of the leisure, sports and recreation professional in the nonprofit sector. There are a variety of textbooks on the market today that address management theories and concepts; however we will balance classroom learning with real life, actual sport and recreation management experiences in the nonprofit sector. I have worked with nonprofit organizations for almost thirty years and the people I have come in contact with have enriched my life significantly. I am impressed by how much of what we value is made possible by nonprofit organizations and the individuals who work and volunteer in them. Based upon my many practical experiences as an athletic director, event & facility manager, fundraiser, consultant and CEO in nonprofit management settings, I will share with you hands on and practical examples that work. Nonprofit Recreation and Sport Organizations: Principles and Practices in Leadership and Management will meet the needs of the reader with the development of hands on, how-to-guide for educators in higher education as well as for professionals in the nonprofit sector. This text will provide the reader with valuable information and examples that will bring proven real-life experiences into your classroom and professional life. Specific and clear practical examples along with actual insights will be shared throughout each chapter with additional materials and resources available in the instructor’s guide.

There will be two unique features and themes that will be discussed and emphasized throughout the text. These topics include the value of social responsibility and the skill of developing positive relationships. It is my belief that the reason nonprofit agencies exist is to “make a difference”, to improve the condition and to strengthen the community in which we live. It is important that nonprofit organizations work in concert with corporations and businesses to ensure that our communities stay safe and strong. For a nonprofit to survive it must have a compelling mission, which is often matched with compelling jobs, which can significantly improve the prospects for recruiting the best people with the best attitudes who can then deliver on developing the most powerful relationships with ones constituents. Many theories and concepts will be discussed and addressed, however the real unique feature this text will offer are many detailed real-life examples and case studies of experiences the author has had over the past three decades. Discussion questions and key terms will be introduced in every chapter.

After spending many years as a nonprofit leader, I have had scores of experiences interacting with folks of all ages, backgrounds, religions and interests. As you will all learn, there are a multitude of ongoing pressures and challenges for a nonprofit leader. Whether it is balancing the agency’s annual operating budget, supervising and managing a diverse staff, working with a discriminating board of directors, or overseeing the multitude of facility and building concerns, the agency executive certainly has to juggle a number of balls in the air at one time. However I always felt that my main goal was to create a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where people could connect with people and where families could join together for play groups, special events, and shared holiday celebrations.

Content areas will include: Leadership and Executive Management of staff and volunteers, Human Resources & Personnel, Business operations, Fiscal Responsibility, Facility Management, Youth Sports, Program Development, Special Event management, The importance of developing collaborative efforts, Customer service, Major gift and capital campaigns, Social Responsibility and the valuable skill in developing positive relationships with your constituents, donors and students.

To assist lecturers and instructors, all chapters will be organized in a format that will allow them to address and teach each content area in a weekly lesson format. Included in each chapter is a list of discussion questions and case studies that will be offered. For the nonprofit manager, each chapter will serve as a valuable resource guide and tool in their day-to-day work experience. Many of my colleagues mention their nonprofit work environment as noncompetitive, nonthreatening, and less pressured as advantages of working in the nonprofit sector. Because they share a common cause, these professionals have a keen sense of closeness, cooperation, and unity with co-workers. They can also enjoy more autonomy, variety, and challenge than many of their colleagues in equivalent for-profit or government positions. A young college graduate can be given a lot of responsibility right from the beginning. As a result, there can be greater opportunities to make an impact in the organization earlier on in your career than in the for-profit sector.

I hope you will consider a career in nonprofit work, one that has the potential in being enriching, satisfying, challenging as well as rewarding.

Gary Bernstein

Author Background:

In his 29 years of outstanding professional service to the nonprofit sector, Gary Bernstein has earned an impressive reputation for leadership and management. His activities in the social service
sector include his role as CEO, consultant and visionary for a number of nonprofit agencies nationwide. Gary’s many skills encompass executive management and consulting, building planning and facility design, board and donor development, capital fundraising, and fiscal management.

Mr. Bernstein offers his students a most dynamic and memorable learning environment. Gary Bernstein has been recognized and awarded Old Dominion Universities Most Inspirational Faculty member in the College of Business in spring 2010 and in the Darden College of Education in May 2011. While at the University of Louisville, Bernstein received numerous Faculty Favorite Awards and was nominated for the Provost’s Exemplary Advising Award in 2014. Gary Bernstein received his Masters of Science degree in Sport Administration from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education & Recreation from Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Bernstein is a frequent speaker and consultant in the area of Fundraising, Governance and Strategic Planning in nonprofit organizations. Mr. Bernstein’s main focus is advancing student success at Long Island University-Brooklyn in the areas of Sports Fundraising, Sports Marketing, Sport Administrative Theory and Managing Sports Programs in Nonprofit Organizations.