In order to be successful, non-profit organizations need to be run similar to for-profit companies, according the leader of a major human services agency in San Diego.

    “We’re responsible for the public good,” said Rudolph A. Johnson III, president and CEO of Neighborhood House Association, which provides children and family programs, nutrition services, and a variety of social services. “But sometimes we forget that we need to be held accountable, just like a business. We have to act at an A level, never accept a B or C performance.”

    Johnson’s message was delivered during the reception for the release of the book “Inside the Minds: Strategies for Building an Agile Organization” (Aspatore, 2010), in which he wrote a chapter titled “Developing a Business Mentality while Maintaining a Social Service Heart.”

    The book “is an authoritative, insider’s perspective on creating a company culture that is efficient, innovative, and flexible. Featuring founders, presidents, and CEOs from some of the top companies in the nation, this book is a valuable resource for creating a trustworthy employee base, adapting quickly to the marketplace, and managing with a focus on the future.”

    For Neighborhood House Association, being part of the book means that the agency is being recognized at a national level.

    “We’re thrilled to be part of this book. It is a great moment for our agency,” Johnson said. “Our chapter is a blueprint, a how-to for new CEOs of nonprofit organizations.”

    The Neighborhood House Association (NHA) is San Diego County’s largest multi-purpose human services agency. NHA helps thousands of individuals and families improve their quality of life by providing vital social services including employment, healthcare, child, family and senior services.

    “We’re here to celebrate an achievement for Neighborhood House Association,” said Director of Community Affairs Luis Gonzalez. “Being featured in this book is a big step for us, it is a testament of the work we’re doing as an organization.

    Although NHA was struggling before Johnson came onboard almost five years ago, since then the agency has become an icon in the community.

    “When I came to NHA, I have to admit, we didn’t have our house in order,” he said. “We wanted to achieve excellence, so that if our clients had the money, if they had to pay for services, they would still come here for our services.”

    Aspatore, the publisher of the book, is a publisher of business and business books, journals, and reports.

    Johnson said he plans to use his experiences as president and CEO of NHA to write a full-length book to help the next generation of non-profit leaders.

    “We have some of the best and brightest minds in San Diego. We’re on the right track.”

    To learn more about Neighborhood House Association, please visit www.neighborhoodhouse.org.

    To buy the book, please visit www.aspatore.com.