An entertaining, informative, and eminently useful guide that draws on psychology, data, and real-world experience to explain what really drives successful fundraising.
In The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising, Jeremy Beer and Jeff Cain, cofounders of American Philanthropic, a leading consulting firm for nonprofit organizations, offer practical lessons and unconventional wisdom for both nonprofit leaders and novices in the art and science of raising money. Drawing upon a wealth of experience, deploying an army of anecdotes, and using eye-opening American Philanthropic survey data, the authors provide a brisk, irreverent, and supremely useful introduction to fundraising for charities and nonprofits.
The book explains the hows and whys of a variety of fundraising techniques, from direct mail to planned giving programs. It explores the benefits and pitfalls of prospect research, the keys to donor retention, and the essential elements of a healthy nonprofit culture. It gives insightful advice on making personal meetings count, soliciting foundations, and training young fundraisers. And it does so with sprightly prose and sharp observations. You'll never read another fundraising book quite like this one.
Expertly deflating the pretensions of those who would make fundraising a bureaucratic and esoteric profession, Beer and Cain elucidate the practical knowledge and relationship skills that still matter more than anything else. They make an impassioned plea for the importance of civil society to American democracy and build a compelling case for fundraising as an honorable component of a healthy civic culture. Philanthropy is not about bottom lines and return on investment—successful fundraisers provide a platform for donors to affirm their ideals, values, and morals.
Fundraising is serious, but learning about it needn’t be a chore. The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising is at once eminently practical and absolutely delightful.
By:
Jeremy Beer,
Jeffrey Cain
Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 231mm,
Width: 160mm,
Spine: 28mm
Weight: 386g
ISBN: 9781119546467
ISBN 10: 111954646X
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 01 March 2019
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Chapter 1 Civil Society, Yes; Sheepskins on the Wall, No—or, the Cons of Being Pro 1 Chapter 2 DIRT: Who Gives and Why? 27 Chapter 3 The Wending Planner—or, It’s the Organization, Man 49 Chapter 4 Direct-Mail Prospecting—or, Where the Donors Are 81 Chapter 5 Cultivating Your Donor Garden: From Thank-Yous to House Files 107 Chapter 6 Getting to Know You: Meetings, Donor Clubs, and Planned Giving 133 Chapter 7 Assessing the Donor Party—and, Foundations Are People, Too! 169 Conclusion 195 Acknowledgments 199 About the Authors 201 Index 203
JEREMY BEER is the cofounder and CEO of American Philanthropic, where he has helped more than 300 nonprofits fundraise. He is the author of The Philanthropic Revolution: An Alternative History of American Charity. JEFFREY CAIN is a founding partner of American Philanthropic, a former executive in the nonprofit and philanthropic community, and is currently CEO of CrossFit, Inc. He is the author of Protecting Donor Intent: How to Define and Safeguard Your Philanthropic Principles.
