REVIEWS
“Book Review: Doing Good Well”, Knowledge@SMU, 8 Oct 2008
Those who are unprepared for Cheng’s characteristic boldness will find some of the book’s suggestions controversial, if not downright preposterous… As a penultimate treat to his readers, Cheng insightfully illustrates the various paradigms presented in earlier chapters of the books with a case study on the NKF saga… The book comes full circle, concluding with the scenario of a charity ecosystem, the result of which is doing good better… Doing Good Well should be considered an indispensable resource by anyone who has an interest in the not-for-profit world. Read More
“Book of the Month”, Fundraising Institute of Australia, Oct 2008
Doing Good Well is a strategic review of not just the status quo but also the enormous potential in the nonprofit world. The theme of the book is change. Read More
Sumati Nagrath, “Corporate View on Art of Giving”, Businessworld, 24 Oct 2008
With good use of examples and anecdotes, he deconstructs the running of a charitable organisation both in strategic and operational terms. Also, Cheng addresses almost all aspects of the not-for-profit sector, and in a style that is accessible to all. Read More
Lin Yanqin, “Brain Food: Doing Good Well”. Today, 3 Nov 2008
While its content is extensive enough to be overwhelming at first glance, it nicely balances concepts with reality, to make for an enjoyable and informative read. Read More
Suzanne Lim, “Book Review: Doing Good Well”, Salt, Sep-Dec 2008
That the book manages to fill a much-needed gap in the nonprofit literary scene while being, at the same time, an intelligent, analytical, and thoroughly engrossing read makes it a worthy addition to the library of anyone engaged with the nonprofit world. Read More
Raju Chellam, “We also make steel”, Dataquest, 15 Dec 2008
Why is CSR so important? Because many MNCs are now bigger than countries. … Mr Cheng’s book is an exhaustively researched tome on CSR. Read More
“Better organisations: Endgame Extinction”, Volunteer Bureau of Montreal, Nov 2008
Cheng concludes that understanding this is one key for a charity to move from “Just Doing Good” to “Doing Good Well”. Other keys include getting governance right and understanding the role of donors. This book is highly recommended as a holiday gift for your Executive Team! Read More
“First Look”, Singapore Accountant, Jan-Feb 2009
Replete with non-profit paradigms, and offering a twist to what one might view as straightforward concepts such as mission, employee reimbursement, governance and corporate social responsibility, it informs and provokes as it seeks to decode charity-specific concerns such as charitableness, bridging the rich-poor divide, informed giving and social entrepreneurship. You will definitely be challenged to look at charities in a brand new light. Read More
Joanne Fritz, “New Paradigms for the Nonprofit World”, About.com, Feb 2009
He is able to bring us up short and then help us envision new paradigms. At the same time, Cheng’s style is low-key, conversational, and never preachy. Whether you are a nonprofit staffer, board member, donor, or social entrepreneur, you should read this book. Its chapters hit all the contemporary issues of nonprofit and philanthropic work, and explore the deeply philosophical question of how to do good in a fractious and yet strangely interlinked world, where human desperation and need are as intense as ever. Read More
Sixdon Macasaet, “Book Review: Doing Good Well”, Alliance, 1 Mar 2009
Whether one agrees with Cheng’s views or not, the book is easy to read and provides useful examples and data. It creates good take-off points for introspection and discussion for those involved in the sector. Read More
More book reviews on Amazon.com
NEWS
Susan Long, “Doing good better”, The Straits Times, 8 Oct 2008
FIVE years after the eruption of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) scandal, Mr Willie Cheng, who blew the whistle on its reserves, breaks his silence. With a book, no less. He has written an authoritative tome on the charity sector. Read More
“Good principles”, The Sunday Times, 12 Oct 2008
Indeed the book challenges and surprises the reader on what sometimes seems to be straightforward notions like staff compensation and corporate social responsibility. It is filled with uncommon thinking on common charity matters. Read More
Rachel Chan, “Charities should work towards ‘extinction’ ”, My Paper, 21 Oct 2008
“The old NKF was, in many respects, a professional organization, and TT Durai was very good at fundraising. But unlike the commercial world, in charities there is no direct connection between how and why people give you money and how it is used.” Read More
“Willie Cheng publishes book, Doing Good Well”, Accenture Retired Partner Newsletter, Nov 2008
“Do what interests you or you have a passion for, but give from your strengths, and leverage your talents.” Read More
Raju Chellam, “SMBs should take CSR equally seriously”, SMB Navigator, 11 Dec 2008
First, the world has enough problems and opportunities to need both business and social entrepreneurs … Secondly, business entrepreneurs can be noble whether their businesses are or not … Third, money talks. Read More
“Profitable All Round”, SALT, Jan-Feb 2009
Proceeds from sale of the book goes to charity. Read More
“Announcing results of the 2nd Annual Axiom Business Book Awards”, Independent Publishers, Feb 2009
Doing Good Well wins the Silver Medal in the Philanthropy/Charity/Nonprofit category of the Axiom awards. Read More