My bookshelf is stacked with books published this past year, and into 2009, that promise to make me a better nonprofit manager, a wiser philanthropist, and a more productive fundraiser. Here are my recommendations for those of you who want to add to your store of bookish knowledge for the New Year.
1. Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World
Yes, it would seem an unlikely year for the authors to praise the good works of multi-trillionaires, who, by now, may not be so rich after all. But, this book is such a great guide to the history and philosophy of American philanthropy that it may send you off onto a reading binge for the rest of 2009.
Learn about exemplars of our age's great philanthrocapitalists; trace the history of philanthropic thinking from the Romans to Andrew Carnegie; then grapple with the issues of wealth, poverty, and government.
2. The Charismatic Organization: 8 Ways to Grow a Nonprofit
You've heard of physical capital, which refers to physical objects; and human capital, which refers to people. "Social Capital," a term popularized in the 1990s, refers to connections among individuals. Social networks can be used as a form of capital. Surely, Barack Obama's campaign for president in 2008 exemplifies the worth of social capital.
The Charismatic Organization explains how nonprofits can build social capital in order to achieve their goals. This book is not theoretical, but practical. It provides concrete examples, case studies, and specific tools your organization can use to build its social capital and accomplish its mission.
3. CauseWired: Plugging In, Getting Involved, Changing the World
Causewired, in the words of its author, "is the story of what people do online to try to change the world for the better." Although this book is, like so many on the new digital age, overly enthusiastic at times, it is grounded by the perspective of its author who is not of the "causewired generation." He is, rather, a middle-aged journalist who, like George Plimpton before him, has immersed himself in the Millennial generation like an anthropologist observing an alien tribe. This perspective perhaps makes it easier for most readers, who are likely to be of an older generation, to understand what the causewired world is all about.
If you are still trying to get a handle on this brave new landscape, put this book on your reading list.
4. Sway: the Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
I am a sucker for quirky little books that turn my own thinking, which I thought was so rational, on its head. For instance, I loved Freakonomics, and last year's Made to Stick. My favorite of the moment is Sway.
Sway is unsettling because it reveals just how irrational our thinking and behavior really can be. I was astounded by the implications of this book's explanation of how altruism is actually undermined by small financial incentives.
But, there is much more to learn about, such as the "swamp of commitment" and "peer pressure and coke-bottle glasses." For a quick mind-twisting read, add this to your New Year reading list.
5. The Influential Fundraiser
From donor motivations to a primer on understanding eye movements, this book is full of concrete information and ideas about how to be an effective fundraiser. If you are new to fundraising, this is a must-read. If you are an experienced fundraiser, this book will remind you of the basics and likely teach you some new tricks. If you train volunteers to fundraise, this could be your training textbook.
We love the authors' 5-point framework for being effective on which the book is built: passion, proposal, preparation, persuasion, and persistence. These are all dealt with in depth, with a plethora of specific tactics and techniques to make you a fundraiser who excels at persuasion.
