Customer Reviews

The Seven Faces of Philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating Major Donors (Jossey-Bass Nonprofit & Public Management Series)

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Prince and File really did a number on this book. It contains valuable information about how to friend raise, how best to serve friends of your non-profit, and how to keep them on board with your organization. The book describes seven philanthropic "personalities" and allows the reader to think about his or her own constituents and how they might fit in with these personalities. A remarkable work, that is insightful yet easy to understand and apply.

I loved this book! The Seven Faces of Philanthropy offers a very helpful donor-centered approach to interacting with donors.

Although thoroughly researched, the authors' humility is also refreshing. Prince and File specifically say they are not offering a framework that supplements, not replaces, the strategies and techniques our offices are using. Later, they acknowledge the limits and constraints with this framework but affirm that the strength is in the process.

Throughout the book, actual comments from donors illustrate the points the authors are making. I could almost hear donors I know talking to us through those quotations! As I read The Seven Faces of Philanthropy, I found myself scribbling notes in the margins about how I could implement the framework in my daily work.

I was disappointed that this reprint merely had a new introduction. Part Two is laden with statistics and I found myself wondering how they have changed in the last ten years. Nevertheless, this book is well worth reading and implementing.

In addition to a preface, two introductions, and a research appendix, the chapters include:

Part One: Profiling the Seven Faces of Philanthropy
1. The Communitarian: Doing Good Makes Sense
2. The Devout: Doing Good is God's Will
3. The Investor: Doing Good is Good Business
4. The Socialite: Doing Good is Fun
5. The Altruist: Doing Good Feels Right
6. The Repayer: Doing Good in Return
7. The Dynast: Doing Good is a Family Tradition

Part Two: Cultivating Major Donors with the Seven Faces Framework
8. Making Connections Through Charity Networks
9. Building Relationships with the Seven Philanthropic Personalities
10. Identifying Appropriate Giving Strategies
11. Sustaining Relationships Through Donor Centered Strategies

Conclusion: Applying the Seven Faces Framework

This is a very important read for the not-for-profit person planning to ask for money. It is important to understand the motivations for giving and incorporate that into your "ask".
This book is the best resource for simplifying the giving patterns and motivators of people.

A great book for anyone wanting to better understand the reasons people give. I was taught that tax savings was the primary reason people give; how wrong I was.
Thanks to this book, I feel far more confident to talk to my clients and prospects about giving.
A great read.

This was the text for the Fundraising course I am taking in non-profit management. I found it clear, concise and easy to read and retain. Just reading it gave me more confidence in my success at "the ASK". One of the most helpful parts was the inclusion of research on how certain "philanthropic personalities" want to be thanked once they have given. I actually began immediately to apply it to my work.

This book does not look good on the Kindle or IPad. The content is good but the publisher did not do a good job translating it to the electronic format. Almost like they never looked at their product---or didn't care. It is very hard to read with the font they use.

I use the concepts in this book for training board members in getting comfortable with gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. It helps them to understand that giving is, in the end, about the donor's motivations, not those of the solicitor. After presenting the concepts, I divide the board into small groups and have them discuss various scenarios developed for their organization, asking each group to identify the types of individuals who would respond to this need.

I have found the Seven Faces material to be an excellent study on the different type of donors and their motivation. A great learning tool.