Here are 51 books that Major Gifts Ramp-Up fans have personally recommended if you like
Major Gifts Ramp-Up.
Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.
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!
Many watchdogs of the charitable sector often stress that some nonprofit executives and fundraisers are paid what appear to be exorbitant salaries. Dan’s book brings the nonprofit sector out of the shadows and talks about why no nonprofit should be embarrassed or intimidated by hiring a professional fundraising staff and/or consultants to help them raise the money they need to fulfill their vision for a better community, country, or world.
I found his book a refreshing look at the profession of fundraising and how important it is to the nonprofit’s mission. I recommend that every nonprofit board member read this book. Your eyes will be opened to new possibilities.
Uncharitable investigates how for-profit strategies could and should be used by nonprofits.
Uncharitable goes where no other book on the nonprofit sector has dared to tread. Where other texts suggest ways to optimize performance inside the existing charity paradigm, Uncharitable suggests that the paradigm itself is the problem and calls into question our fundamental canons about charity. Dan Pallotta argues that society's nonprofit ethic creates an inequality that denies the nonprofit sector critical tools and permissions that the for-profit sector is allowed to use without restraint. These double standards place the nonprofit sector at an extreme disadvantage. While the…
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
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.
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…
Coyote weather is the feral, hungry season, drought-stricken, and ready to catch fire. It’s 1967, and the American culture is violently remaking itself while the country is forcibly sending its young men to fight in a deeply unpopular war.
Jerry has stubbornly made no plans for the future because he…
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!
This book tells us that the key to a healthy nonprofit organization is a harmonious board-staff relationship. Easier said than done! I found this to be a fun, upbeat, and down-to-earth manual that walks you through the process of clarifying the roles of the board and staff.
Jean Block guides you through clarifying roles in governance, management, finance, planning, human resources, resource development, and recruitment. I love workbooks and this is one of the best because it enables nonprofit leaders—both board and staff—to roll up their sleeves and work through each key area. It explores the different roles of board and staff in several key nonprofit management functions.
The book gives you a worksheet to help start a conversation about best practices and more clearly define the key roles of the board and staff in your organization.
The key to a healthy nonprofit organization is a harmonious board-staff relationship. Easier said than done!
The Invisible Yellow Line: Clarifying Nonprofit Board and Staff Roles is a fun, upbeat, and down-to-earth manual that walks you through the process of clarifying the roles of the board and staff.
If you've ever watched a football game on TV you be familiar with the yellow line that's visible to viewers, but invisible to the players on the field. Using the “invisible yellow line” metaphor, Jean Block guides you through clarifying roles in governance, management, finance, planning, human resources, resource development, and recruitment.
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.
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…
Homeless following the death of his adoptive parents in a car crash and the subsequent loss of their farm tenancy, Seb decides to enrol as a residential student at the Asklepios Foundation, a College of Natural Medicine, boasting a sanctuary modelled on an ancient Greek healing temple. Spending a night…
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.
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 have read this book more than six times, and it is one of the few pieces of fundraising literature I keep coming back to.
Managing major gift fundraisers is messy, but this book offers an amazingly clear, practical framework that actually works. It moves past the generic advice and focuses entirely on the structure you need to build real, lasting donor relationships.
Are you searching for the next big idea in fundraising to help your organization soar? It’s actually right under your nose in your database. Major Donors. Right here, right now, you have the donors who have the capacity to give five, six, and yes, seven figure gifts. This book tells you how to find them, and what to do once you have them. Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels tell you everything you need to do to take your organization to a new level of performance in major gifts. This book is packed with easy to implement ideas and strategies to…
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.
This book builds on the information provided by The Little Book of Boards by going into more details into the nitty gritty. This book addresses the legal responsibilities of the board risk management and ethics. It also has a chapter on financial statements and internal controls. Each chapter provides just enough details that the reader can start to get a great understanding of the big picture of a board member’s responsibilities. The book closes with a focus on change management and useful case studies to get the reader thinking about their responsibilities for the nonprofit organization. I’d definitely recommend reading this after the Little Book of Boards to continue to grow the knowledge base without getting overwhelmed.
Nonprofit organizations boards are justifiably passionate about their causes and eager to help their organizations. However, in today s increasingly regulated climate, board members, who come from diverse backgrounds and may have little financial expertise, can feel overwhelmed by the regulations that are their duty to follow. The Best of Boards: Sound Governance and Leadership for Nonprofit Organizations provides not-for-profit board members and financial managers with the essential fiduciary knowledge and indispensable leadership guidance that they need to meet the challenges of the current not-for-profit environment. This book contains: * Financial and ethical guidance for real-life situations * Practical leadership…
Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS
by
Amy Carney,
When I was writing this book, several of my friends jokingly called it the Nazi baby book, with one insisting it would make a great title. Nazi Babies – admittedly, that is a catchy title, but that’s not exactly what my book is about. SS babies would be slightly more…
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…
