Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real World Strategies That Work [Paperback]

Ilona M. Bray (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: NOLO (March 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413300944
• ISBN-13: 978-1413300949
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #649,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Raising Capital

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fundraising book for the small nonprofit, or one that is not well organized!, September 5, 2006

By 

Jeff Lippincott "JLIPPIN" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real World Strategies That Work (Paperback)

This is a great book for the small nonprofit that does not know much about fundraising. If it were for a more established nonprofit, then it would not have referred to major gifts as those starting at $500. I'm used to major gifts starting at $10,000 and going up well into the 6 figures.

This book explains how to do the following:

1. Work with individual donors

2. Plan special events

3. Solicit grants from foundations and corporations

4. Get media coverage (publicity)

5. Use the Internet to help in the fundraising process

6. Create print marketing materials like brochures, newsletters, and annual reports

All the above are important parts of a fundraising plan. One has to set goals, strategize how to attain the goals. Then attract individual donors and develop a rapport with those donors so they give more and more each year. Eventually those donors will become major donors, but that topic is best left for another book.

The book includes a good list of Web sites for prospect research. But the appendix materials didn't seem to be up to par.

All in all, this book provides grassroots strategies for struggling nonprofits. It is no-nonsense and well organized. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the basics about nonprofit fundraising. Topics beyond the scope of this book are planned giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, and endowments. But if you read this book and understand it, then you will be ready to learn about the other topics just mentioned. 5 stars!

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and Simple Explanations of What Works, May 31, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real World Strategies That Work (Paperback)

There are a tremendous number of non-profits around. There are also a tremendous number of funding organizations. Your job as the fundraising manager (whatever your exact job title may be) is to put your particular non-profit together with one or more funding organizations to raise the money you need.

There is a basic set of fundraising skills and technologies that you can use to fund nearly any non-profit. Gone are the days (in most places) where you can put together some simply fund raising activity and gain enough money to get you through the year.

Here in one simple book is an excellent summary of all of the most modern techniques. It includes:

Developing a Plan that will include your goal, the assets you have to do fundraising, and a strategy to use these assets in the most profitable manner.

Attracting Individual Supporters, which means making your organization look wupport-worthy, understanding your supporters and attracting new ones.

Your best supporters are those that have given you money before. Here are the techniques to keep them giving.

These techniques and many more are discused here by an expert in the field. It should be required reading for anyone responsible for fund-raising in a worthy organization.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book for Start-Up Non-Profits, April 10, 2007

By 

Helen Mcvicker "Santashelper" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real World Strategies That Work (Paperback)

I found this book VERY helpful. In fact, I was so fascinated with it, I couldn't put it down. It was like a good novel. I immediately changed some of my thank you letters and re-did my Corporate request for funding letter. I will continue to use it's suggestions. The book is well written and not full of 'filler info', but very solid recommendations that one can put to use right away.