Early in my career, I accessed periodicals and books sharing best practices and new opportunities for nonprofit organizations. Rather than the then-popular Cosmopolitan magazine, publications like Contributions Magazine, The NonProfit Times, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy could be found in my reading pile. The articles provided me with both innovative ideas and also reinforcement that my own ideas were on the mark. Many a story was copied and included in the meeting packets of my boards and committees. Excited to share what I was learning; I hoped my enthusiasm would motivate the volunteers and leadership of the organizations I served. And sometimes, it did!
Soon I began curating books on the subject matter for my own growth and also to share with my Master’s students as an adjunct professor. Some of the publications were lack-luster, but many were absolutely terrific and, in fact, changed my practice. Here are a few of my favorites.
As professionals, we believe we know what our donors and volunteers think and what they want, but research-based Donor Centered Fundraising by Penelope Burke actually chronicles what is important to them… and what isn’t. Her landmark donor research produced things that I really should have known, but perhaps had forgotten over time. I was so enamored with the book; I purchased copies for each staff member and arranged for a group of trustees to attend an all-day Donor Centered Fundraising seminar in Boston.
Because great stewardship is so vitally important to how people feel about our organizations, two publications by Dr. Adrian Sargeant, Intentional Stewardship and Donor Loyalty, have a place on my bookshelf. Dr. Sargeant presents compelling statistics on the impact of stewardship – and personal interaction – on donor loyalty.
Working with boards can at times be challenging. Clients will lament that their boards do not understand philanthropic practice or their role in supporting it. Most board members are afraid to ask for money; so, our job is to make it more comfortable – maybe even enjoyable! David Lansdowne’s book Fundraising Realities Every Board Member Must Face is an easy read that I have provided to boards in advance of training or strategic planning. It distills key fundraising principles in a one-hour read. Gail Perry’s Fired Up Fundraising: Turning Board Passion into Action has been an important addition to my collection. Gail shares a commonsense, four-step fundraising process and opportunities to engage board members, even those who do not want to ask for money. It is based on the premise that the bulk of activity occurs well in advance of asking for a gift and there is a role for every board member to help.
Margaret May Damen is a certified financial planner and investment advisor. Together with Niki Nicastro McCuistion, she wrote Women, Wealth & Giving. Women give differently than men; they seek to be engaged in the work of the organizations they serve. As a result of this book, I created a woman’s giving circle at a nonprofit I worked with, which continues today.
In my practice, I return again and again to the tried-and-true foundational practices that have stood the test of time. Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign by Kent Dove has served as the basis for any campaign I have been involved with, tweaked of course for contemporary practice. Still, anyone who wants to demystify capital campaigning should read this book.
In fact, it all began with Harold J. (Si) Seymour’s book, Designs for Fundraising, originally published in 1966. In it, he describes that we all have a universal need to be “a worthwhile member of a worthwhile group.” Our organizations represent worthwhile endeavors, and our jobs are to engage people in that work.