Product Description

If all that has ever been said and written about the art and science of fundraising could be distilled down to just what really matters—what fundraisers everywhere need to know—there would be only a small number of true gems deserving of the description, “nuggets of information.”

Leading international fundraiser Ken Burnett, author of the classic Relationship Fundraising, has identified and defined 89 such nuggets which he presents here as The Zen of Fundraising, a fun read, one-of-a-kind look into what makes donors tick and–more importantly–what makes them give.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #155271 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
"Ken Burnett knows what donors want and how fundraisers can provide it. The Zen of Fundraising illustrates simple yet hard-earned lessons through which fundraisers can engage their donors as real partners, raising more money than ever. But to succeed, fundraisers need to aspire to greater levels of communication and donor engagement. This book shows us how"
—Chuck Longfield, founder and CEO, Target Software Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts

"The refreshingly brief principles provide inspiration and learning to anyone striving for exceptional fundraising practice."
—Nicci Dent, director of fundraising, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, Sydney, Australia

"A gentle blend of humour, personal experiences and practical examples (but underpinned by pure steel), this book makes the most compelling case yet for thinking seriously about donor relationships."
—Adrian Sargeant, professor of nonprofit marketing and fundraising, Bristol Business School, UK, Adjunct Professor of Philanthropy, Indiana University Center on Philanthropy

Download Description
If all that has ever been said and written about the art and science of fundraising could be distilled down to just what really matters what fundraisers everywhere need to know there would be only a small number of true gems deserving of the description, & nuggets of information. Leading international fundraiser Ken Burnett, author of the classic Relationship Fundraising, has identified and defined 89 such nuggets which he presents here as The Zen of Fundraising, a fun read, one-of-a-kind look into what makes donors tick and more importantly - what makes them give.

From the Back Cover
If all that has ever been said and written about the art and science of fundraising could be distilled down to just what really matters—what fundraisers everywhere need to know—there would be only a small number of true gems deserving of the description "nuggets of information."

Leading international fundraiser Ken Burnett, author of the classic Relationship Fundraising, has identified and defined 89 such nuggets that he presents here as The Zen of Fundraising—a fun-to-read, one-of-a-kind look into what makes donors tick and, more importantly, what makes them give.

"Ken Burnett knows what donors want and how fundraisers can provide it. The Zen of Fundraising illustrates simple yet hard-earned lessons through which fundraisers can engage their donors as real partners, raising more money than ever. But to succeed, fundraisers need to aspire to greater levels of communication and donor engagement. This book shows us how."
–Chuck Longfield, founder and CEO, Target Software Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts

"The refreshingly brief principles provide inspiration and learning to anyone striving for exceptional fundraising practice."
–Nicci Dent, director of fundraising, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, Sydney, Australia

"A gentle blend of humour, personal experiences and practical examples (but underpinned by pure steel), this book makes the most compelling case yet for thinking seriously about donor relationships."
–Adrian Sargeant, professor of nonprofit marketing and fundraising, Bristol Business School, UK, and adjunct professor of philanthropy, Indiana University Center on Philanthropy

Customer Reviews

For the Start-up to United Way - An Essential Book
If you are involved with any organization that interacts with clients, The Zen of Fundraising: 89 Timeless Ideas to Strengthen and Develop Your Donor Relationships should be required reading for all your administrators, front-line personnel (they can remind Administration how to not muck up) serious contributors, board members and fundraisers. For start-ups, a little creative adaption can bring its larger messages to your aid. That is, if you want to become more effective and responsive so you can become a larger entity.

A "must read" is not too high praise. Neither is "essential". Get this book. Read it. Memorize large parts of it. It will be handy when you want to quote really wise concepts at parties, with friends and with clients.

Plus, Burnett's brilliant and personal style (reminds me of how Mark Twain might right a letter to a friend) is a joy to behold.

GregRobin.

Most of what you need to know to raise funds
Ken Burnett has been a friend since I was given the privilege of introducing him at the PBS Development Conference years ago. He wrote the book on donor relationships --Relationship Fundraising: A Donor Based Approach to the Business of Raising Money and here he's written the book on gift stewardship.

With all due respect to my many other published friends in the fundraising arena, if you have this book, Jim Greenfield's Fundraising Fundamentals: A Guide to Annual Giving for Professionals and Volunteers, and Kay Sprinkel Grace's Beyond Fundraising: New Strategies for Nonprofit Innovation and Investment, 2nd Edition, there's not much more you need to know.

Ken's book is an easy, breeze read--the whole message is delivered in less than 160 pages. But there's a depth of wisdom and experience here that belies the size. A great handbook from a terrific fundraiser.

Good Points, but Where's the Zen?
I was hoping that this book would provide an overview of working smarter, not harder -- for example focus on understanding your own message in order to be more effective. Instead, it is a "to do" list (which the title states)that only the largest and best established organizations would have time/resources/or history to do. I'm a start-up, and for me, I can only hope to get to the point where most of the ideas in this book are useful -- or even possible.

It's good in that the underlying theme is: It's the customer, stupid. But that is something that all good salespeople/strategic marketing know: take care of your own customers first, keep communication channels open, listen more than you talk, find out why they do business with you. etc.

So: my biggest problem is the title: It should be: Maintaing Funding for Charitable Organizations: A checklist for focusing on your donor relationships. If you are in that situation you should probably read this book. But don't look for the zen.