Fundraising books are a great resource to learn and draw inspiration from when looking for ideas for raising more money for your nonprofit organization. These books are written by seasoned industry professionals, ready to share their knowledge to help you level up your fundraising game.
Nonprofit fundraising books are filled with practical tips, actionable advice, and relatable stories to help inspire you. In this post, we’ll take a look at the top nine fundraising books, share short summaries of them, links to where you can find them, and what you’ll take away from each.
Let’s get started.
Importance of Fundraising Books
Nonprofits rely on fundraising to operate, so knowing how to do it well is critical.
Whether you are a seasoned professional or brand new to the field, one of the best ways to boost your fundraising efforts is to learn from others, and that’s where fundraising books come in.
Fundraising books are often penned by industry experts who have learned a lot over the course of their careers and are willing to share what’s worked for them, what they wish they had avoided, and what they hope others can do in the future.
Nonprofit staff should always be invested in learning more about their field and evolving their efforts to better advance their missions and make an impact.
Fundraising books are a great resource that can help you learn the art of raising funds effectively and how to properly engage with your donors. They also provide insights into various fundraising strategies, donor psychologies, grant writing basics, and how to effectively land your ask. They can also help you navigate the challenges of fundraising and how you can overcome them.
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Must-Read Fundraising Books
There are tons of fundraising books out there, so we’ve spent time rounding up nine of the best. Below is a list of top fundraising books, including their summaries, takeaways, and where to buy them.
These books can help give you practical ideas, expert insights, and so much more. After reading them, you’ll be able to put new strategies into practice and raise more funds for your nonprofit.
The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits ‍
Summary: Erik Hanberg’s The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits has been named among Forbes’ top 12 must-read books for nonprofit employees, and with good reason. It includes a step-by-step guide on how to fundraise effectively and what you need to avoid to be successful.
Takeaways: Readers love the specific and actionable advice that Hanberg gives, and while it’s targeted to help smaller nonprofits learn the ropes of effective fundraising, there are insights that apply to all who are looking to unlock their full potential. It takes hard work to run a nonprofit and raise funds, and The Little Book of Gold provides a thorough overview to help you get started.
Who This Book is For: Small nonprofit leadership and staff members who are looking to master the art of fundraising.
Nonprofit Fundraising 101: A Practical Guide With Easy to Implement Ideas and Tips from Industry Experts ‍
Key Takeaway: It provides concrete best practices, insights from industry professionals, and so much more. You have all you need in this book to master fundraising at your nonprofit, including individual donors, major gifts, events, direct mail, online and email fundraising, and more.
Who This Book is For: This book is one of the best fundraising books and has been hailed as essential reading for nonprofit professionals, volunteers, activists, and entrepreneurs looking to raise money.
Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work ‍
Summary: Ilona Bray’s Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies that Work was recently revised to offer even more insights from professionals. Bray consulted over 50 nonprofit experts to share insights on everything from how to make a fundraising plan to how to solicit grants from foundations and corporations and everything in between.
Key Takeaways: This book takes a holistic view of how you can be successful while raising funds. It’s filled with practical advice that will help you answer the question: “How do we make our voices heard and bring in the needed support?”
Who This Book is For: Nonprofit employees at any level who are looking to jumpstart their fundraising efforts.
The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications: Real-World, Field-tested Strategies for Raising More Money ‍
Readers enjoy the direct approach to improving their communication skills and leveraging them into more donor dollars. He delves into tried and true strategies, like direct mailers, to explore why you’re doing them, if they make money, and how to improve them.
Key Takeaways: After reading this, you’ll be empowered to tell your story and start raising funds in new ways—and better understand the why behind what communication strategies are working.
‍Who This Book is For: Advancement professionals looking to improve their communication skills.
It's NOT JUST about the Money ‍
Summary: In It’s NOT JUST about the Money, authors Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels explore how to build authentic relationships with your major donors. They share ideas on how you can create your major gift program, fostering a culture that makes these critical donors feel valuable.
Key Takeaways: Ultimately, it comes down to empathy. Perry and Schreifels help guide readers through learning how to practice active listening and not just listening to talk. They share ideas on how to ask meaningful questions that get to the major donor’s motivations and capture how their gifts can help bring to life meaningful change.
Who This Book is For: Major gift professionals looking to strengthen their relationships with their biggest donors.
Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers: Talk Your Way to Success with Donors and Funders ‍
Summary: In Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers: Talk Your Way to Success with Donors and Funders, you’ll learn how to master communication throughout the entire donor lifecycle. Janet Levine and Laurie Selik share insights that appeal to both seasoned fundraisers and those new to the field, all centered around having donor-centered conversations. After reading this book, nonprofit professionals will have the confidence to communicate and land their next gift or grant.
Key Takeaways: There are full conversation guides to help inform your communications, as well as examples so you can see these tips in practice.
Who This Book is For: Any fundraising professional looking to improve their communications.
Achieving Excellence in Fundraising ‍
Summary: Achieving Excellence in Fundraising is one of the best books on philanthropy. It’s used as a textbook in many classes—but don’t let that scare you. It’s written in an accessible way with practical examples that can be used by all who are looking to improve their fundraising efforts.
Each chapter focuses on different topics, including donor motivation and psychology, inclusive fundraising, and fundraising techniques and tricks. The fifth edition has been updated to reflect modern practices, and it does so in a way that cares for the mission-driven outreach that is core to any organization.
Key takeaways: This is the go-to reference for all things fundraising, including principles, concepts, techniques, and application exercises. There are even recommendations for next steps to help you succeed in fundraising.
Who This Book is For: Nonprofit employees just starting out and looking to build a strong basis, as well as seasoned professionals looking for fresh insights.
The Smart Non-Profit: Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World ‍
Summary: The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine offers a comprehensive look at how to stay people-focused, even as more and more processes become automated. It’s a trade-off between being more efficient, but at what cost?
Key Takeaways: Kanter and Fine’s approach is a fresh take, providing a unique perspective on when and how you can lean into AI while not losing the human connection needed to be successful in the nonprofit sector. They give you practical tips on how you stay true to your mission without getting lost in the latest technology.
Who This Book is For: Nonprofit professionals looking for insight on how to find the balance between technology and human connection.
Fundraising for Social Change ‍
Summary: Nonprofit veterans Kim Klein and Stan Yogi authored Fundraising for Social Change, which is in its eighth edition. This how-to guide helps readers understand how to stay authentic, maintaining focus on social justice issues as you look to expand your donor base.
It includes practical advice, including insights on how to establish an infrastructure, effective hiring practices, and properly budgeting and planning for the future.
Key Takeaways: It offers strategic guidance on how to fundraise while keeping your mission front and center, interwoven through all levels of the business.
Who This Book is For: Nonprofit professionals who are looking to advance racial, social, economic, and environmental justice within their organization and the world.
The best fundraising books will help inform and inspire you on your fundraising journey. They provide practical tips that you can implement in your efforts to make an immediate impact, as well as share insights on how you can develop your long-term strategy.
Books for fundraisers are just the beginning. There are countless other resources available—including Instrumentl’s blog—that can help you continually learn how to make a difference in the world around you.
A fundraiser’s job is never done. There’s always more that you can be doing, so remain flexible, agile, and curious—as long as you keep learning, you’ll have a better chance of staying relevant and keeping your fundraising strategy fresh.
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