Fundraising Books & Resources

There are so many books on how to fundraise that we shall only review a few that you may find helpful as you start your quest.

For particular areas, you will find a plethora of books on raising money or holding successful fundraisers, but here are those books and websites that we feel will get you off to a flying start in your fundraising career.

As you read on, you'll discover that getting individuals, companies or trusts to donate to your cause is something that you can learn - you can avoid the basic mistakes and put together a plan for raising almost any sum.

Recommended Reading for fundraisers

Fundraising projects can actually be quite complicated and difficult projects to plan for, that’s why you should never be afraid to ask for help. Make sure that you spend time researching exactly what you can do to raise money, there are a number of different resources which you may find useful when planning fundraising events. We’ll look at a few of the most useful ones now.

-          The Complete Fundraising Handbook by Nina Botting and Michael Norton - This is a very useful book which contains pretty much everything you need to know about fundraising. It contains advice for large charities and also smaller ones. It includes advice about applying for government grants, and advice on appealing to individual donors.

-          Fund Raising for Dummies by John Mutz and Katherine Murray - This is another extremely useful book if you’ve never planned a fundraising event before. It is an interesting and easy to understand book which is a great read. It also covers all the information regarding tax laws; it’s a fantastic book to learn about the tricky technical subjects.  This comprehensive hands-on guide covers all aspects of fundraising.  This book is perfect for those who are new to fundraising, but also has some wisdom for those who have been at it for a while.  If your organization will seek grants, then see also “Grant Writing for Dummies”.  You can often find the two books sold as a set.

-          Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits, Real World Strategies That work by Ilona M Bray - I found this book very useful and it gave me some very useful ideas and tips which can be used to raise money for your nonprofit organization

-    How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters by Mal Warwick - This book will show you how to turn your letters into much needed funds for your group.  The author reminds readers that letters are like a personal visit.  That is why writing compelling letters is so important for your group. 

-    The Fundraising Planner: A Working Model for Raising the Dollars You Need by Terry Schaff and Doug Schaff - This guide will teach you how to build a fundraising campaign from the ground up.  It includes tips on strengthening your mission statement, increasing your prospect lists, developing a calendar of events and tracking your progress. 

-    Fundraising for Nonprofits: How to Build a Community Partnership by P. Burke Keegan - This book shows you how to tap into the resources that are available in your community.  Many groups overlook opportunities for partnerships with churches, local businesses and even other non-profits, that could help them reach their fundraising goals much more easily.

There are an abundance of resources available, both on the web and at your local library or book store.  Use the list above as starting point, and watch your fundraising plan come together!

Here is a link to a book on Amazon that I found to be very helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Fear-Free-Fundraising-How-People-Money/dp/141963495X/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215532226&sr=8-11

It helps break down the barrier of asking people for money for your cause.  It helps the reader introduce people to their fundraising cause and gives special insights into fundraising.

"Global Perspectives on Fundraising New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising".

 With the significance of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropy, and volunteerism in other nations growing, this book offers information on what is happening in fundraising on an international scale.

"Big Time Fundraising for Today's Schools"

As a fundraisers will want to learn about the entire fundraising process, including donor research, writing appeal letters and writing grant proposals, goal development, program evaluation and budgeting.  This book is aimed at enabling schools to provide world-class learning for each of their students.

"Ten Steps to Fund Raising Success"

Step by step guidance to success - starting with Step One which assesses your current fundraising efforts right through to Step Ten on measuring your progress in achieving your goals and objectives.

Suggested Resources

"Stress Free & Profitable Fund Raising"

This popular book on fund raising offers practical suggestions on how to run a
successful money-raising event or campaign.

From planning to implementation, it's a step by step approach to helping you become a successful fundraiser.  This book is an e-book which means that it is available for immediate download following purchase.

"Successful Fundraising - a complete handbook for volunteers & professionals"

Whether you are a committee volunteer or professional fundraiser, find helpful tips and advice on accessing to funds, building relationships with your donors, raising more money in a less time, and developing a creative and productive fundraising organization.

Full of real-life examples from the authors extensive fund raising experience, this book is complete with planning guidelines, sample worksheets and timetables, and up-to-date information on using the Internet, E-mail, websites, and online auctions as successful fundraising tools.

"Beyond the Bake Sale - 100 Innovative Fundraising Ideas for Non Profits"

Fed up with traditional bake sales and car washes?  Whilst these can work well for groups, to raise more money, you need new, fresh and fun ideas. This book lists 100 - some are bound to be a perfect match for your group.