The Forgotten Foundations Of Fundraising: Practical Advice And Contrarian Wisdom For Nonprofit Leaders

This book is intended primarily for those who are relatively new to fundraising or would like a refresher. It begins by orienting readers to a fundamental truth: donors care about belonging, community, and affirming their highest ideals more than they do measurable return on investment—and this is highly unlikely to change. Armed with this insight, and drawing on proprietary American Philanthropic survey data, this book will walk readers through the fundamental principles of raising money from donors small, large, and institutional, focusing on time-tested tactics like direct mail, personal meetings, donor clubs, and foundation solicitations. Fundraising is serious, but learning about it needn’t be a chore. How to Raise Money is brisk, irreverent, and full of lively anecdotes taken from American Philanthropic’s decade of experience working with more than 300 nonprofits from all walks of life. Readers who absorb its lessons will be well-prepared to help their organizations thrive.

Jeremy Beer (www.americanphilanthropic.com; Phoenix, AZ)?is the founder and CEO of American Philanthropic, LLC, along with Jeff Cain (now the CEO of CrossFit, Inc.). American Philanthropic has engaged with more than 300 nonprofits across the country including, faith-based institutions, policy groups, schools, universities, and human-services providers, helping these clients raise many millions of dollars. Jeremy now serves as the firm’s principal partner. His most recent book is?The Philanthropic Revolution: An Alternative History of American Charity?(University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015). Jeremy is also the editor of America Moved: Booth Tarkington’s Memoirs of Time and Place, 1869–1928 (Wipf and Stock, 2015). He has served on several boards, including those of the American Ideas Institute (where he is chairman), the Institute for Family Studies, and Mars Hill Audio, helping to raise money at each of those institutions, and has lectured at Wake Forest University; Georgetown University; Calvin College; Pepperdine University; the national meetings of the American Political Science Association, National Catholic Development Conference, State Policy Network, and Foundation for Economic Education; and elsewhere.

Jeff Cain (www.americanphilanthropic.com; crossfit.com)?is a founding partner of American Philanthropic, a former leading executive in the nonprofit, educational, philanthropic, and development community, and presently the CEO of Crossfit. Jeff is the author of Protecting Donor Intent: How to Define and Safeguard Your Philanthropic Principles (Philanthropy Roundtable, 2012), and has written for or been cited by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Philanthropy magazine, the Washington Legal Foundation, and Front Porch Republic. Jeff has spoken on philanthropy-related topics at the Philanthropy Roundtable, the Bradley Center for Philanthropic Renewal at the Hudson Institute, and the State Policy Network, among other venues. He served as president of the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation in Santa Barbara, California, from 2009 to 2014.?