Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times: What Good Causes Need to Know to Survive and Thrive [Hardcover]

Kim Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0470479507 | ISBN-13: 978-0470479506 | Edition: 1

Praise for Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times

"Kim Klein has been a guru to social justice fundraisers for many years. She shows us by her efforts, and not just by her words, that it is possible to raise the money you need, no matter how marginal you feel or are considered in the larger society."
—Rinku Sen, executive director, Applied Research Center, New York, New York; author, Stir It Up and The Accidental American

"With wisdom gleaned from over 30 years of experience, Kim Klein delivers her can-do message with wit, grace, and unabashed optimism—even in times like these. She taught us at JVP that there is still plenty of money out there; it's just unevenly distributed. Her consistent message: people give because we ask. Poking fun at money taboos, assuring us that fundraising is not that hard, Kim reminds us that the system is held in place by money: if we don't learn about it, we can't change it!"
—Penny Rosenwasser, National Board, Jewish Voice for Peace, Oakland, California

"This book is an extraordinary combination of philosophy and how to, all aimed at helping nonprofits build a movement for social justice. Kim distills three decades of fundraising and organizing experience into a book that will be helpful for novice and veteran alike."
—Lance Evoy, director, Institute for Community Development, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times is the much anticipated follow-up to fundraising expert Kim Klein's bestselling Fundraising for Social Change. This important book offers social justice nonprofits a road map for meeting the challenges of fundraising in a climate of economic uncertainty.

Klein outlines the steps an organization needs to take to create a disciplined, systematic fundraising program that is both flexible and durable in order to survive almost any challenge. Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times tackles the big issues head-on, including the fact that the current economic turmoil has no end in sight. Klein shows how to build fundraising programs that thrive on this kind of economic roller-coaster ride and reveals how to identify and make the most of opportunities as they come along. She explores fundraising from the point of view of organizational development and examines myriad issues such as working across generational lines and in multicultural communities, collaborating effectively with other nonprofits, and surviving scandals and crises.

The book also examines challenging questions that bedevil nonprofits no matter what is going on in the external landscape, such as how boards can fulfill their fundraising responsibilities without feeling overly burdened, how organizations can adapt to generational leadership changes, how to practice good time-management habits, and how the sector—and the context for fundraising—will continue to change.

Written in Kim Klein's conversational, reader-friendly style, Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times discusses the current fundraising landscape, provides an overview of the past, and offers hope for the future.

About the Author

Kim Klein is a noted figure in the field of grassroots fundraising, both as a writer and a practitioner. She provides training and consulting through Klein & Roth Consulting (www.kleinandroth.com). Klein is a member of the Building Movement Project, where she leads workshops on tax policy and fundraising. She is the founder of the bimonthly Grassroots Fundraising Journal, the series editor of the Chardon Press Series, and the author of the bestselling Fundraising for Social Change, Fundraising for the Long Haul, Ask and You Shall Receive, Raise More Money, and Fundraising in Times of Crisis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (September 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470479507
• ISBN-13: 978-0470479506
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT resource for anyone building an organization. October 22, 2009

By Holly Fincke

Format:Hardcover

This book, amazingly enough, bridges what fundraiser newcomers need to learn and what veterans need not to forget. No mean trick!

Kim Klein brings a clarity - and a calm voice in tough times - to creating a solid fundraising program to sustain an organization over the long haul. The book works for those facing an immediate crisis (with particular insights on managing that) and for those who want to get sharper as they look to equally or more challenging times ahead. Klein has been in the trenches, and it shows with solid frameworks and examples of how planning, implementing, and evaluating your fundraising from donors really works. I was re-inspired and reminded of the key factors in building a great donor program. And I was so glad that she included advice on how we can get past our own barriers to asking for money.

Different than "how to" fundraising manuals, Klein brings some unique gifts in this book, from her social justice framework and analysis of the economy to her practices of respect for and communication with donors. Her insights about improving boards, working with volunteers, and managing and learning through generational change are on point. Importantly, she urges us to respect our work as fundraisers and be mindful of our own sustainability, a factor in building a fundraising program that too often gets dropped.

I anticipate continuing to use this book as a key reference tool and one I can recommend to others with varying fundraising backgrounds. Anyone trying to build and organization can learn, and most importantly, implement from this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for all all good causes, whether in trouble or not October 5, 2009

By Manny Hernandez HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

These are tough times: everyone knows that. But what to do in the face of unreliable economic times: how to make your nonprofit organization "economy-proof" (as the author writes) so that you can survive and continue to be able to fulfill your mission in spite of the ups and downs that will come your way?

Klein exhibits brilliance in this book beyond its timeliness. She resists the temptation to jump into offering short-term tips, asking the reader to consider ways to build strength and health into your organization, by focusing on the essentials, those things that are bound to help you deal with crises (she is very emphatic about the fact that you cannot AVOID crises, but you can build your organization to be able to thrive in spite of them).

The author discusses elements ranging from the role of the board to the development of a volunteer fundraising team; from the creation of a healthy working environment to developing a donor base. She then moves on to present us with things to do if you are facing a financial crisis, so you can get out of the hole, do damage control and address the following 6-12 months.

This book is an absolute must for anyone doing any kind of fundraising in today's nonprofit world, so that you will find anwers for today's crazy economy and tomorrow's more promising future.

4.0 out of 5 stars Book worth reading if looking to do fundraising in these times. May 11, 2013

By T Joan Walsh

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Gives me info that I have been looking for in regards to fundraising. Will be helpful
in the work I now do.