The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management [With CDROM]

Whether the reader is new to the fundraising process or a seasoned professional who wants to keep up-to-date with the latest techniques, this Third Edition of "The Complete Gude to Fundraising Management" will be immensely helpful. The exhibits accompanying each chapter plus access to the website that supports the book make this book particularly invaluable. I like having these resources at my finger tips.

I loved this book. It covers so much about nonprofit fundraising in such detail that I'm so glad I came across it a few years back when I was learning about the subject. I was working as an associate capital campaign consultant and found it kind of hard to find fundraising books that covered much of anything about capital campaigns. Then I found this book. Most of the hardcover books I buy and read I don't bother to make notations using a pencil. I used this book so much to learn the basics of nonprofit fundraising that I broke tradition and used a pencil on it quite extensively. As a result, I have a few recommendations as to how the next edition could be improved. First, and foremost, I think the chapters should be reordered as follows: PART 1. Fundraising Basics 1. (1.) The five major fundraising principles 2. (2.) Your organization and the nonprofit world 3. (3.) Managing the resource development function 4. (5.) Managing information 5. (15.) Human resources 6. (6A.) Prospect ID, research, and segmentation 7. (9.) Direct and select mail fundraising 8. (10.) Telephone solicitations 9. (7.) Nurturing relationships Part II. Major Gift Fundraising 10. (4.) The Case for Support and fundraising materials 11. (6B.) Prospect ID, research, and segmentation 12. (8.) Major gift programs 13. (13.) Planned giving 14. (14.) Capital and endowment campaigns Part III. Add-on ways to generate funds 15. (11.) Special event fundraisers 16. (12.) Grantsmanship Part IV. An appendix 17. (16.) Evaluation The numbers above in parenthesis are the actual chapter numbers. I would have liked the book much more if Chapter 6 had been split into two chapters. As far as I know, prospect identification differs significantly when working an annual campaign and soliciting funds using direct mail and the telephone. This topic could and should have had its own chapter. There is also the prospect identification, research and segmentation I am initimately used to that relates to major gift solicitation and capital campaigns. That topic should have had its own chapter (maybe even two chapters?). I would have liked the book better if the content at pages 247 and 248 were reworked. I would reword the text as follows: "Resource development professionals who have had years of capital and endowment campaign experience have come to recognize FIVE fundamental prerequisites indicating institutional readiness: 1. Does the nonprofit have a sound Case for Support? 2. Is there a good database of donor prospects with many high in CCCC, i.e., capacity, capability, connection, & commitment? 3. Are there sufficient volunteers who can provide strong leadership? 4. Is now a good time to initiate a campaign considering the current obligations of the nonprofit, the attitude and composition of its Board, and fundraising activities in the community from other nonprofits that share this nonprofit's constituents? 5. Can the nonprofit pay for and orchestrate the campaign effort?" I would have liked

I teach a class in fundraising and I use this book as my text. Great book, good examples. It's a comprehensive introduction to development for non-profits.

Weinstein does a good job representing the many facets of fundraising development today. The CD-ROM is a helpful addition. Highly recommended.

I'm new to the fundraising/development field. I found this book very readable and informative. The subject is presented in a style that is intelligent and no-nonsense, unlike a lot of the "XXX for Dummies" and "Idiots Guide to XXX" series. There is a nice little CD-ROM in the back with sample Word doc files on it. I wish there had been a few Excel spreadsheets too. I come from a sales background and found some of the advice for what to say to potential donors to be a bit ham-handed. But, overall a great intro to fundraising with a lot of good advice that nonprofits should follow.