Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15:10-11

I remember the first time I heard that saying, “garbage in, garbage out.” A youth pastor shared it decades ago. And it applies to my job today: I work in systems and databases. If there’s bad data, you won’t be able to make a good decision.

Jesus says it’s not what you put in, but what comes out that counts. And yet, he also says to wash the inside and the outside of the cup. If we are to be pure and holy and blameless in God’s sight, perhaps we need to pay attention to the front end to make sure the back end isn’t defiled either.

Starting out right can make a big difference. I met a new friend recently who found me online on LinkedIn. He wanted to have a discussion about next steps in starting a career in the nonprofit sector. While there’s many possible steps (ie, volunteer), he was a reader, too.

Therefore, today I’m providing a longer list than what I provided to him. It’s a list of books that I’ve found useful while serving in a nonprofit. Good stuff in, good stuff out. Perhaps you will enjoy them as well:

On communication:

• 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
• Crucial Conversations
• Everyone Communicates, Few Connect

On fundraising:

• Fundraising for Social Change
• Gender Matters
• It’s Not Just About the Money
• The Sower
• Revolution in Generosity
• When Money Goes on Mission

On the sector:

• Forces for Good
• Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (supposedly it’s a textbook, but I would have read it just because!)
• Nonprofit Kit for Dummies
• Nonprofit Leadership and Management (be warned, this is a textbook)
• Nonprofit Management (another textbook)
• Nonprofit Sustainability

On change management:

• Change Anything
• Leading Change
• Managing Transitions
• Who Moved My Cheese?

On leadership:

• Becoming a Person of Influence
• Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos
• Resonant Leadership
• Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership

And just a few other favorites:

• Burnout
• Be Refreshed
• Courage and Calling
• Crucial Accountability
• Finish
• Speed of Trust

What book is your favorite? Have you read any on this list? Share on Facebook @HopelesslyHopefulBooks. https://www.facebook.com/HopelesslyHopefulBooks

Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash

© 2021, Mollie Bond. All rights reserved. Originally published at www.molliebond.org.

Note: I did not receive any compensation for this blog post. Some of the links above are “affiliate links.” If you use this link, I receive a small affiliate commission. I recommend books, products, or services that I have enjoyed using and believe you will benefit from as well. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.