Successful Nonprofit Leaders Are Readers
April 15, 2026
In a world that rewards speed and surface-level understanding, choosing to sit with ideas, absorb perspectives, and reflect deeply is an intentional act of growth.
Welcome to Hardy Smith’s blog, where he shares experience and insight learned through decades in the corporate world and advocating on behalf of nonprofits and associations across America.
Hardy’s mission is to help maximize the performance of nonprofits and associations and their essential leadership teams.
If you’re seeking to triumph over communication challenges, bring meaningful and manageable solutions to, and realize measurable results of your organization, this blog will give you more than ideas — it will maximize your team’s performance like never before.
In a world that rewards speed and surface-level understanding, choosing to sit with ideas, absorb perspectives, and reflect deeply is an intentional act of growth.
Books: These are books that I have personally read and recommend as being beneficial to anyone working with nonprofits, associations, and volunteer-based organizations. Some are considered classics by nonprofit professionals and others reflect the most current trends affecting nonprofit performance. I’m an avid reader and new titles are added frequently!
How can nonprofit organizations create a culture of accountability—one where commitments made in the boardroom actually translate into meaningful action? Leaders of nonprofits, chambers of
What causes disconnection of nonprofit board members? In my interview with Jeff Stratton, editor of Wiley Publication’s “Board and Administrator,” I addressed a challenge that
Volunteers are the heartbeat of many nonprofit organizations, associations, and chambers of commerce. When engaged effectively, they extend an organization’s reach, deepen community impact, and
In my Chamber Pros Online Conference interview with host Frank Kenny , we explored one of the most persistent frustrations chamber, association, and nonprofit executives
(This article is based on lessons from my book, Stop The Nonprofit Board Blame Game, and was originally published by (ACCE) Association of Chamber of
The selections in my latest reading activity reflect a mix of subject areas. Each book has stimulated my thinking and generated ideas I can put
With increasing demands for service and rapidly diminishing resources for responding to those demands, nonprofits must find new approaches for making their mission happen. Throw
When your organization hits a crisis—one big enough to threaten its future—how do you lead it back from the brink? To find out, I spoke
In a world that rewards speed and surface-level understanding, choosing to sit with ideas, absorb perspectives, and reflect deeply is an intentional act of growth.
Books: These are books that I have personally read and recommend as being beneficial to anyone working with nonprofits, associations, and volunteer-based organizations. Some are considered classics by nonprofit professionals and others reflect the most current trends affecting nonprofit performance. I’m an avid reader and new titles are added frequently!
How can nonprofit organizations create a culture of accountability—one where commitments made in the boardroom actually translate into meaningful action? Leaders of nonprofits, chambers of
What causes disconnection of nonprofit board members? In my interview with Jeff Stratton, editor of Wiley Publication’s “Board and Administrator,” I addressed a challenge that
Volunteers are the heartbeat of many nonprofit organizations, associations, and chambers of commerce. When engaged effectively, they extend an organization’s reach, deepen community impact, and
In my Chamber Pros Online Conference interview with host Frank Kenny , we explored one of the most persistent frustrations chamber, association, and nonprofit executives
(This article is based on lessons from my book, Stop The Nonprofit Board Blame Game, and was originally published by (ACCE) Association of Chamber of
The selections in my latest reading activity reflect a mix of subject areas. Each book has stimulated my thinking and generated ideas I can put
With increasing demands for service and rapidly diminishing resources for responding to those demands, nonprofits must find new approaches for making their mission happen. Throw
When your organization hits a crisis—one big enough to threaten its future—how do you lead it back from the brink? To find out, I spoke
