First Things First

"I wish the IRS gave a copy of this book with every new 501c3 they issue."

-Debra England, McKinsey and Company


Lined with bold messages and practical advice, First Things First takes readers on an insightful journey of how to build a high-performance nonprofit. Readers learn from the blunders and successes of SVAS as they learn how to apply a number of key elements most emerging nonprofits overlook when starting out or expanding.


"Too often emerging nonprofits want to do what's convenient, not what's important," says Iselin, who has spent the last 20 years building some of the nation's most innovative nonprofits. "The nonprofit world is filled with passionate people eager to make a difference. 


Their intentions are noble, but most leaders of early stage nonprofits lack the experience needed to build a quality organization. They tend to take short cuts, penny pinch, and make hasty decisions. The result is costly disruptions, operational migraines, and in some cases, failure."


First Things First is a guidebook for nonprofit leaders. It focuses on a set of governing principles, operational structures, and practical tactics board members, executives, and managers should adopt and apply if they are truly serious about fulfilling their missions and building sustainable nonprofits of superior quality -- not just talking about it. 


Each chapter provides a case study example that relates chapter topics to experiences Iselin had during the five years he spent as chief executive at SVAS and the founder of Higher Ground. Readers see how his staff and board overcame a host of challenging situations to create a pathway for the organization to develop pioneering programming and effective operations that propelled his organizations to national recognition and acclaim.


What makes First Things First different from other "getting started" and "growing your nonprofit" books is that the principles and tactics found in this book are often overlooked and understated, or leaders wait too long to adopt and apply them. Iselin notes, "Seasoned leaders know costly mistakes made early on can have long-term consequences that can derail the dreams and momentum of fulfilling a worthy mission. First Things First shows leaders how to avoid common mistakes and how critical it is to make important decisions early on that might not seem obvious or intuitive."


In the book, readers learn how to hire the best staff and nominate the best board members by identifying a set of uncommon attributes. They learn how to efficiently leverage their human capital, how to build a brand that captures the attention of national media, how to raise big money from major donors using rarely applied fundraising techniques, and how to dodge the traps of "lip service" passion. 


Readers also learn why it's more important to hire, or develop, a chief executive with social entrepreneurial skills than to hire an executive with industry experience, how to unravel the mysteries of developing a healthy relationship between board members and a chief executive, how to develop an engaging culture, how to establish a structure of organization that lasts, how to develop simple tools to measure outcomes without having to conduct research, how to receive untold commitments and donations with a system that costs almost nothing, and much more.  


The book provides dozens of practical tactics and tips that leaders can quickly put into practice. Most importantly, First Things First teaches leaders how to think about the process of building and operating a high-performance nonprofit. They learn how they do what they do is more important than what they do, and just because they can do something doesn't mean they should do it. 


First Things First is receiving praise for its hard-hitting, yet inspiring analysis. Iselin says what many in the nonprofit industry are too afraid to say. He addresses sensitive issues such as personal accountability and moral obligations, yet his encouraging words and useful advice give readers hope that their nonprofits can become triumphant successes if they are willing to do the right things, right from the start.


All proceeds (100%) from the sale of this book go to hunger relief organizations, and organizations that provide rehabilitation services wounded warriors.