Here are 100 books that It's NOT JUST about the Money fans have personally recommended if you like
It's NOT JUST about the Money.
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Have you ever found yourself frozen at the thought of asking a donor for money? You're not alone. For over 25 years, I’ve been coaching nonprofit leaders and executive directors who feel like they are completely making it up as they go. I am deeply passionate about demystifying this process because leadership is hard enough without the added exhaustion of false confidence. Fundraising isn’t about begging or transactional tricks—it’s about inviting people into a shared story to change the world. I want to help leaders find their own wiring and ask without fear.
I love this book because it is gloriously messy—which is exactly what our fundraising communication needs to look like.
Too many nonprofits hide behind sterile, corporate language that completely kills their appeals. Jeff Brooks teaches you how to write with raw emotion and urgency. If you write fundraising letters and want people to actually read them, this is mandatory reading.
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…
Have you ever found yourself frozen at the thought of asking a donor for money? You're not alone. For over 25 years, I’ve been coaching nonprofit leaders and executive directors who feel like they are completely making it up as they go. I am deeply passionate about demystifying this process because leadership is hard enough without the added exhaustion of false confidence. Fundraising isn’t about begging or transactional tricks—it’s about inviting people into a shared story to change the world. I want to help leaders find their own wiring and ask without fear.
Thanking donors is one of the most important parts about fundraising—and the one that nonprofits epicly fail at.
Lisa Sargent is a masterful donor stewardship expert who leads readers into the joys of expressing gratitude. Despite what you may think, Thankology will actually help you and your donors enjoy your relationship. And a nice side effect is you will find yourself raising more money too.
Get the nonprofit book by Lisa Sargent that shows you how to transform your fundraising results and lift your donor retention to new highs through the often-overlooked power of proper thanking.
Complete with gratitude brain science, field-tested samples, and page after page of show-stopping results across donation thank-you letters, donor newsletters, annual reports, welcome packs, and more – plus a 6-step framework to ensure your donor thank you success every time – put your nonprofit first in line to buy this book.
Praise for Thankology: “Chapter by chapter, [Lisa Sargent] defines and describes the key milestones that will be fundraising's…
Have you ever found yourself frozen at the thought of asking a donor for money? You're not alone. For over 25 years, I’ve been coaching nonprofit leaders and executive directors who feel like they are completely making it up as they go. I am deeply passionate about demystifying this process because leadership is hard enough without the added exhaustion of false confidence. Fundraising isn’t about begging or transactional tricks—it’s about inviting people into a shared story to change the world. I want to help leaders find their own wiring and ask without fear.
Most nonprofit newsletters are a complete waste of money because they are written for the wrong audience. They focus on the organization instead of the donor.
Tom Ahern completely flipped my perspective on this. He shows you exactly how to transform a standard newsletter into a powerful, active revenue stream that donors actually look forward to reading.
Your Sun Will Rise Again
by
Joseph Jean Baptiste Jolicoeur,
Your Sun Will Rise Again is a powerful collection of poetic reflections on hope, resilience, and the human spirit. Written with sincerity and depth, these poems speak directly to those navigating life’s challenges, offering comfort, clarity, and quiet strength in difficult moments.
Through simple yet profound language, the book reminds…
Have you ever found yourself frozen at the thought of asking a donor for money? You're not alone. For over 25 years, I’ve been coaching nonprofit leaders and executive directors who feel like they are completely making it up as they go. I am deeply passionate about demystifying this process because leadership is hard enough without the added exhaustion of false confidence. Fundraising isn’t about begging or transactional tricks—it’s about inviting people into a shared story to change the world. I want to help leaders find their own wiring and ask without fear.
We often build fundraising systems that inadvertently put friction into the process, making it harder for people to give. I appreciate how Cherian Koshy breaks down the actual science of how our brains process generosity.
This book helped me understand how to communicate more clearly so that donors truly hear the appeal, bridging the gap between behavioral psychology and real-world fundraising.
A comprehensive discussion of the latest advances in fundraising strategy and donor decision-making
In Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making, fundraising and behavioral science expert, Cherian Koshy, delivers a point-by-point guide to creating crystal-clear messaging that transforms prospective donors into active donors. The author demonstrates a revolutionary, science-backed approach to fundraising that unpacks why donors move from considering a donation to actually donating.
Neurogiving integrates up-to-date insights from neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and proprietary research to generate a comprehensive roadmap for generating donor experiences that maximize generosity and long-term commitment.
Readers will also find:
Illustrative examples and research-informed strategies for applying…
I have been a professional fundraiser for more than thirty-five years and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in this profession. I began writing short stories at the age of ten and became a published author in 1994. Since then, I have authored, co-authored, or contributed to approximately forty published books (The Pastor's Guide being the most recent, all available on Amazon). I agree with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said fundraising is a noble profession, and I care deeply that fundraisers are respected for the wonderful work they do. Fundraisers are usually not born but made. Excellent fundraisers learn from the best, continually study their profession, and have a real passion for what they do!
I think most fundraisers have one big fear--that your prospective donor might say “no!” Kent Stroman’s book can show you how to master the art of conversational fundraising. I love this book because it gives you the tools you need to have meaningful, productive, enjoyable conversations with both current donors and potential funders. This book gives you the benefit of learning from the input of hundreds of nonprofit leaders who identified their greatest obstacles to asking for major gifts.
Kent will equip you to seek and find larger donations and gain confidence as a fundraising staff member or volunteer. His 10-Step Staircase will help you become more comfortable, confident, and effective when asking and help donors truly enjoy the gift-making process. This book should be considered required reading for anyone involved with serious fundraising.
What gets in the way of your face-to-face fundraising? Can't get “in” to see a funder? Don't know who to ask? No time for donor calls? Fear that your prospective donor might say “no”? Asking about Asking: Mastering the Art of Conversational Fundraising shows you how to overcome these obstacles using conversational fundraising—leading to successful one-on-one gift solicitations.
Conversational fundraising is a simple, effective, proven technique for soliciting contributions and recruiting volunteers. If you have ever postponed talking with a donor because you didn't know how to start a conversation about a large gift—then get your copy today. Asking about…
I’m a CPA with nearly 20 years of experience in the accounting profession and I provide continuing education to CPA firms in the area of accounting and auditing. One of my areas of specialization is government and nonprofit accounting. I serve on the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB’s) Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee and the AICPA’s Governing Council. I am passionate about the standard setting process and ensuring financial reporting is accurate and presented in a way to help the user make financial decisions. I have a BSBA from Georgetown University with a concentration in Accounting and International Business.
While governance is a key aspect of any board member's responsibilities, often nonprofit board members are surprised or even disheartened by the requirement to fundraise on behalf of the organization. Some people are afraid that they can’t ask for money or are uncomfortable asking certain people and decide they don’t want to serve on the board. While there are a lot of books on fundraising,Asking Styles helps board members identify their asking style and what would be the most effective fundraising methods for them. It also helps understand how others feel about fundraising and how to work as a team to bring the most success to the organization. The book is a short read but full of great examples and practical guidance.
This could very well become one of the most important books in our field. It is a breakthrough of a methodology that really works. It’s the best antidote I’ve read on taking the fear out of asking. It will make you successful. If you already are, it will make you more so. (From the foreword by Jerold Panas.)
The breakthrough concept of the Asking Styles makes it possible for anyone to become a more effective fundraiser. Your Asking Style is based on your personality and unique set of strengths when asking for gifts.
Farrah Wethers struggles with her new midlife career as a massage therapist. Her wealthy client is murdered on her table making her suspect number one. Can Farrah and her best friend, June Cho, sort through the suspects to find the real killer?
I have been a professional fundraiser for more than thirty-five years and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in this profession. I began writing short stories at the age of ten and became a published author in 1994. Since then, I have authored, co-authored, or contributed to approximately forty published books (The Pastor's Guide being the most recent, all available on Amazon). I agree with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said fundraising is a noble profession, and I care deeply that fundraisers are respected for the wonderful work they do. Fundraisers are usually not born but made. Excellent fundraisers learn from the best, continually study their profession, and have a real passion for what they do!
The authors of this book, Jimmy LaRose and Joanne Oppelt, know what they are talking about because they have both led numerous organizations through this process. I have been consulting for more than thirty-five years, and I can assure you the principles outlined in this book work. I think you will agree that all nonprofits want to be successful in their fundraising in order to transform their communities.
The outstanding feature of this book is that it lists exactly what to do at each step of the way—creating your case, building your advancement calendar, running your non-ask event, running the ask-event, cultivating donors, building your campaign cabinet, and more. If you think you can’t possibly raise these big gifts. Trust me, you can.
Major Gifts Ramp-Up is about financial capacity-building. It ensures organizations raise the millions they need to scale their important mission. This is accomplished when nonprofits deploy the Major Gifts Ramp-Up (MGRU) Model.The MGRU Model provides nonprofits the system they need to ensure fundraising campaigns come in over goal, are completed on schedule, are executed under budget, result in happy volunteers, produce grateful donors, and promote community pride.Board members, staff, and volunteers are tasked with making their nonprofit mighty and sustainable. Successful charities don’t service a problem but rather solve a community problem completely.
Re-inventing how people relate to good causes that change the world has been a lifetime obsession for me, and I’ve made it the focus of my career for nearly 50 years, writing at least eight books on the subject. Some time back, I wrote my book, below, a light, lively exploration of how simple storytelling skills help us to help others in all sorts of creative and enjoyable ways. Its objective was to enable aspiring innovative writers to focus on how best they can make positive differences in this troubled world by telling their stories with power, passion, and impact that will ensure they stick and endure. That’s my passion.
Great service organisations depend on great fundraising, but so often the understanding of what’s really required to consistently deliver great fundraising performance somehow eludes many of the best causes. In defining what it takes to dependably deliver truly spectacular and sustainable levels of voluntary income, this book walks the talk, detailing case studies of persistent achievement that truly deserve the descriptor ‘great’.
In describing what great fundraising means in detail, Alan Clayton exposes organisational foibles and shortcomings that can all be overcome, and so points out practical ways towards increased income for any organisation, plus how to be a happier, enriched workplace too.
Unlock new growth opportunities by transforming your organization's approach to fundraising
In Great Fundraising Organizations, renowned nonprofit consultant Alan Clayton delivers a proven blueprint for charities and non-profits worldwide to scale their fundraising efforts and their effectiveness. Based on data gathered over twenty years of work with more than 500 organizations including Unicef and WWF, this book explains exactly what works and why, revealing to readers the rigorously researched mindsets, strategies, and practices in use by Great Fundraising Organizations (GFOs)-rare organizations that have the ability to unlock the fundraising revenue they need to meet or exceed performance and mission goals.
I have been a professional fundraiser for more than thirty-five years and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in this profession. I began writing short stories at the age of ten and became a published author in 1994. Since then, I have authored, co-authored, or contributed to approximately forty published books (The Pastor's Guide being the most recent, all available on Amazon). I agree with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said fundraising is a noble profession, and I care deeply that fundraisers are respected for the wonderful work they do. Fundraisers are usually not born but made. Excellent fundraisers learn from the best, continually study their profession, and have a real passion for what they do!
I loved this book because Steven breaks down the barrier between major gift officers and planned-giving officers. I have found that nonprofits isolate their development offices and have development officers doing annual fund work, where they talk to donors about making a small, first-time gift without determining the donor's real capability and interests.
Then, maybe this donor gets passed along to a major gift officer who gets them to increase giving, but without thought of the ultimate gift. Finally, some of these donors get passed onto a planned giving office if they are determined to have the interest and capability to make that ultimate gift. Steven’s book proposes a method for every donor to have a personalized relationship with the nonprofit that will result in an ultimate gift.
Personalized philanthropy is a radical new approach to what we traditionally called planned giving. After decades of "it's all-about-our-organization fundraising," charities thought it wise to take into account what donors might need from the gift transaction. For a long time, this meant little more than applying planned giving techniques, many of which provide payments or an income to the donor in exchange for giving up an asset. More recently, and a bit more expansively, the question has grown to include what donors need, not only from a financial perspective, but from a mission perspective-the donor's mission, not just the charity's.
2024 Gold Winner, Benjamin Franklin Awards, Health & Fitness Category
2024 International Book Awards, Winner, Autobiography/Memoir Category and Health: Women's Health Category
A memoir of triumph in the face of a terrifying diagnosis, Up the Down Escalator recounts Dr. Lisa Doggett's startling shift from doctor to patient, as she learns…
I became a nonprofit consultant because I could use my best skills in writing and facilitating and apply them for good. I continue in this work because nothing is more exciting than helping people who have dedicated their lives to making the world better in some specific way actually take the next step to do better. The books I’ve recommended have made me far better at what I do.
This book is the best guide and easiest-to-follow approach to nonprofit strategic planning out there. It shows the way out of the typical SWOT brainstorming towards a more considered, flexible, and impactful approach. I’m especially enamored of the way it focuses on actual strategy—something missing in almost every other strategic planning methodology that drives you to adopt a series of action steps without ever describing what they’ll add up to accomplishing.
Full disclosure, though … this book was written by the founder of my firm. But that aside, I’ve used this approach with probably 100 organizations I’ve worked with, and I’ve found its durability to be outstanding! The approach—or elements of the method—can be self-facilitated for many organizations.
Turner Publishing proudly presents a fully-updated edition of The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution FINALIST, Ben Franklin Awards, Independent Book Publishers Association, Business Category
The world changes continuously and rapidly. It's foolhardy to believe that strategies should not do so as well. Nonprofit leaders already know this, but traditional strategic planning has locked them into a process that's divorced from today's reality. That's why plans sit on the shelf and why smart executives are always seeking workarounds in between planning periods. The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution offers a nimble and powerful alternative. In this groundbreaking book, strategy expert David La Piana introduces "Real-Time…
