Fundraising: Hands-on Tactics for Nonprofit Groups
By L. Peter Edles; 288 pages; published by McGraw-Hill
Anyone who works in the nonprofit sector knows all about the ever-increasing competition for funding. But it's a slow, drawn-out competition - not so much tortoise and hare as it is hare versus hare. Because, as nonprofit consultant Peter Edles points out, "There is no instant gratification in the business of fundraising." That's why it's so important to step into the ring armed with a solid set of fundraising skills, and this book covers pretty much every aspect and type of fundraising, whether it's soliciting a major gift, managing an e-bay auction, creating a communications plan, or conducting your post-campaign follow-up. It's all here.
Edles starts off by dispelling some of the common myths and misconceptions about fundraising (fundraising is begging, if your cause is worthy you'll automatically receive donations, small organizations can't use big organization tactics). He then takes the reader step-by-step through the logical and practical applications of organizing, developing, and conducting a fundraising drive, beginning with pre-campaign activities. Other chapters cover the solicitation of major gifts, running a profitable small-gifts drive, e-campaigning, and how to effectively get your message across to potential donors and the community at large. The section on fundraising via the Internet is new to this second edition of the book and is quite up-to-date. However, the topic of privacy isn't really covered and readers should check out the laws in their jurisdiction to make sure all their fundraising activities are compliant.
This is definitely an 'in-the-trenches' guide for anyone who needs to fundraise. No matter how small the campaign, Edles' anecdotes, examples, and no-nonsense expertise will come in handy. This is a thorough and comprehensive book that will leave you feeling inspired and motivated to get out there and raise more funds for your organization. And if you use the prescribed tactics, you'll be a step ahead of your competition.
Buy the book:
Canada: buy through Amazon.ca
