I would argue that there is a second, equally-important, albeit interrelated, problem with non-profits in general: they are highly risk averse. Many non-profits

I would argue that there is a second, equally-important, albeit interrelated, problem with non-profits in general: they are highly risk averse. Many non-profits still operate under a create an endowment and dispense funds to proven -- or at least perceptive -- good projects model. Consequently, there is a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, which is to say weak experimentation. I should mention that most of my non-profit experience deals with medical research foundations. Political think tanks are limited by the general impossibility of proving all but trivial problems.