Product Description

Fundraisers, here are the tricks that get the cash! Fundraising For Dummies is the complete, fun-to-read guide to the art and science of raising money for nonprofit endeavors, from Little League to big foundations. Fundraising For Dummies helps you to

• Find the secrets of writing grants that get the green
• Conduct effective grassroots campaigns, phone and mail solicitations, events, and more
• Discover tips on starting a nonprofit organization from scratch
• Put the fun" in fundraising

Watch as your volunteer force turns into your front ranks, and wait to hear those "noes" turn into "yesses" as ...For Dummies turns your marketing techniques into solid gold.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #630781 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-08
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From the Publisher
Fundraisers learn the tricks that get the cash!

Scores of proven ways to raise money for nonprofit organizations.

From the Back Cover
"A simple, straightforward, and helpful guide." Ken Gladish, CEO, YMCA of the USA

Proven tips on grants, direct mail, special events, and more!

Tried and true marketing techniques to catch contributors

Loaded with tips to research and write winning grant proposals Find out how to turn volunteers into soldiers for your cause! Whether you're a small outfit or a big organization, you're competing for donors' dollars and time.

About the Author
John Mutz (Indianapolis, Indiana), former president of the Lilly Endowment, cofounded the Indianapolis Donor's Alliance and was named 1997 Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year by the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Fundraising Executives.

Katherine Nelson (Indianapolis, Indiana) holds a certificate in Fundraising Management and works as an advisor and grant writer for local and international nonprofits.

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Customer Reviews

Good book, but watch the legal & tax advice!
In case you've been trapped on a desert island for the past several years, IDG books has been publishing "Dummies"-themed books on every subject under the sun and moon, from Windows 2000 to sex. Fundraising for Dummies is a typically informative, easy-to-read, and useful guide to fundraising for nonprofit organizations.

With 28 chapters in five parts and appendices of checklists and how-tos, the book has loads of information for novice and intermediate fundraisers alike. In fact, it's also a pretty good reference for board members and volunteers involved in fundraising activities.

There is a chapter devoted to predictions on the future of philanthropy in the U.S., with one-paragraph explanations of brief statements, such as "E-giving Will Grow." Most of these predictions are obvious to nonprofit-sector experts (and especially those of us who participate on CharityChannel!). However, I must admit to being intrigued by the idea that "Nonprofits Will Rule!", meaning that, as more for-profits become regional and national in scope, local nonprofits will assume increasing local community leadership influence.

As good as this volume is in its general approaches and many helpful tips and techniques, do not mistake this book for a thorough treatment of the subject or any of its components. I was alarmed by its breezy assertion that nonprofit board service

"...is not as risky as serving on a for-profit board. Nonprofit board members are protected personally from liability in any legal action against their charitable organization..."

Haven't the authors heard of the IRS and Intermediate Sanctions? And, since nonprofit corporations are state-chartered (like their for-profit brethren), wouldn't liability vary from state to state, as well as depending on the facts and circumstances of each case? I would imagine that the D&O liability insurers would like to address this before the second printing!

One benefit of this book I found is one which I'm not sure is intentional. Grant writing is given short coverage in the appropriately-numbered Chapter 13 of the book, thereby providing two subtle reminders that grants are but a minor part of fundraising success.

Any reader interested in the subject will learn much from this book, as long as they don't take its accounting and legal advice too literally.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1 -- Gearing Up to Raise Funds

Part 2 -- Getting to Know Your Donor

Part 3 -- Using Your Fundraising Tools

Part 4 -- On the (Fundraising) Campaign Trail

Part 5 -- The Part of Tens

Index

Fundraising for Dummies
I am just starting my first job as a fund development director, and this book is a terrific step-by-step reference. I've been reading lots of stuff, and this is the best. The authors know fundraising on both sides--as fund raisers and funders. The book is readable,interesting and full of specifics, "case studies," and references (with helpful contact information--addresses, etc.). I would think even "old hands" in fundraising would learn a thing or two.I highly recommend it.

Fundraising for Dummies
I recently purchased Fundraising For Dummies. I and a friend are just beginning to look into fundraising. This book was an enormous help. It offered something we really needed-practical, down to earth advice on how to actually go about fundraising. This was great because many of the books I had read before were more about the philosophy behind fundraising or just a particular aspect of it.

I feel that anyone interested in fundraising would benefit from this book. As a novice in this field, I found it particularly helpful and will use it as a reference for quite some time.