Product Description

Find out how to cultivate donors and solicit donations online

Covers new changes in tax and philanthropy law

Whether you're a small outfit or a big organization, you're competing for donors' dollars and time. This hands-on, vital guide shows you how to take full advantage of the strategies and resources available and advises you how to promote your cause, research potential donors, organize events, write winning grant proposals, and utilize the latest technology.

Discover how to
* Define your group?s focus
* Create a viable plan
* Organize your board of directors
* Find and train volunteers
* Market via print and online
* Promote yourself with the media

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33483 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780764598470
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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
Find out how to cultivate donors and solicit donations online

Covers new changes in tax and philanthropy law

Whether you're a small outfit or a big organization, you're competing for donors' dollars and time. This hands-on, vital guide shows you how to take full advantage of the strategies and resources available and advises you how to promote your cause, research potential donors, organize events, write winning grant proposals, and utilize the latest technology.

Discover how to

• Define your group?s focus
• Create a viable plan
• Organize your board of directors
• Find and train volunteers
• Market via print and online
• Promote yourself with the media

About the Author
John Mutz is the former chairman of the United Way of Central Indiana and the former president of the Lilly Endowment.

Katherine Murray has written several books about fundraising and advises nonprofits.

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.