Summer Reading for Nonprofit Marketers and Fundraisers

Roger Carr, of Everyday Giving, recently posted his summer reading list and he gave us permission to reprint it here. Several of these books have been reviewed on our site and those titles are linked to those reviews.

Roger writes:

I am an avid reader, especially when it comes to nonprofit marketing and fundraising. The books I enjoy and recommend tend to be easy to read, understand and implement.

It was difficult, but here are my top seven books for nonprofit markers and fundraisers:

1. Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causes

   If I was to recommend one book on marketing for nonprofit organizations, this would be it. After reading this book by Katya Andresen, you will think differently about how to engage your target audience.

2. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

   You may have a great mission, but your organization won't last if you can't get others to support it. This book by Chip Heath and Dan Heath will have you telling your stories in a way that will maximize your ability to get the support you need for now and in the future.

3. Ask Without Fear!: A Simple Guide to Connecting Donors With What Matters to Them Most

   This book by Marc A. Pitman should be read by everyone who is involved in any way with fundraising. It provides a step by step method to ask for funds that is not only effective, but also removes much of the fear that is attributed to fundraising.

4. Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work

   This is another great book by Ilona M. Bray that covers the basic elements of fundraising. It not only discusses one-on-one requests from potential donors, but also covers requesting grants.

5. Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits

   Whether you are a nonprofit marker or fundraiser, it is important to understand the qualities of a high impact nonprofit organization. This book by Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant is the result of a multi-year study that discovered those practices common across high impact nonprofit organizations.

6. Grassroots Philanthropy

   This is another great book by Bill Somerville and Fred Setterberg on ways that nonprofit foundations can be more effective. Again, understanding those wallet ease that make a nonprofit organization effective will help in developing an effective message to be used for marketing and fundraising.

7. Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

   We all have challenges in getting things done in a busy world. This is a fun book by Brian Tracy that shares an important technique. It has helped me tremendously, I hope it will help you just as much.

What books do you recommend for your fellow nonprofit gurus? Let us know so we can review them and put them on our list.

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