Book Reviews

Just the best books, films and videos, summarised, reviewed and recommended one by one by your peers, to help you to have a bookshelf that you can rely on, that contains only the best published works on fundraising to be found anywhere. Fundraisers will find here reviews of the cream of fundraising’s best books.

Ask Without Fear: A simple guide to connecting donors with what matters to them most.

By Marc A. Pitman.

‘Simple but profound’ is how Joanne Fritz describes this book. She concludes that the author, Marc A Pitman has skilfully de-mystified major giving using entertaining and humorous anecdotes which leave you with a can-do attitude.

Read the full review written by Joanne Fritz.

Philanthropy in a flat world, inspiration through globalization.

By Jon Duschinsky.

Clare McDowall, one of SOFII’s ambassadors, explains why this book changed her outlook and attitude to fundraising. Following Jon’s advice, she recommends throwing out the rule book and making the most of the huge opportunities (and challenges) that are facing the nonprofit sector today.

Read the full review written by Clare McDowall.

Fundraising Principles and Practice.

By Adrian Sargeant, Jen Shang and Associates.

‘A comprehensive selection of knowledge that is both readable and well structured’. See if you agree with Roewen Wishart’s thorough review of this book. Be sure to let us know.

Read the full review written by Roewen Wishart.

Relationship Fundraising: a donor-based approach to the business of raising money

By Ken Burnett

In Relationship Fundraising, the classic read for all fundraisers, Ken Burnett takes us carefully through the fundamentals of good fundraising. Ken reminds us that a unique relationship exists between donors and the causes they support, and shows us how to preserve and develop that relationship.
Read the full review written by Neil Sloggie.

Type and Layout: How typography and design can get your message across – or get in the way

by Colin Wheildon

Typestyle and typefaces may seem unlikely fare for readers of SOFII opinion pieces but not so if you want to communicate effectively with your donors. It has been said that communication is the key to building donors’ trust and confidence.
Read the full review written by Ken Burnett.

Digital Giving: How Technology is Changing Charity

by Richard C. McPherson

Only a few things in life are worth missing a flight for. I’d like to tell you about two of them. The first is merely amusing but the other, I think, you will find of more value. The first was only the second flight I’d missed, ever. It was going to Oslo, Norway, but I was stuck on London’s Hammersmith roundabout...
Read the full review written by Ken Burnett.

Making Change, Tips from an Underage Overachiever

by Bilaal Rajan

There are too many people who assume children aren’t important and can’t do anything. Twelve year old Bilaal Rajan proves them all wrong. When I first had this book ‘assigned’ to me, I thought it would be some long, boring book on fundraising. This is not the case...
Read the full review written by Skye MacKenzie.

Storytelling for Grantseekers: A Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising

by Cheryl A. Clarke

The foreword to this short and readable book summarises its value well, ‘For reluctant writers who need warm-up exercises and structured lessons…and for seasoned grant writers who get caught up in the jargon of our fields’...
Read the full review written by Roewen Wishart.

Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising

by Hank Rosso

If you have not read Rosso and his associates’ work, I thoroughly recommend this compendium of 500-plus pages. In it we find the analytical models of the ‘donor pyramid’, the ‘campaign planning cycle’, the ‘concentric circles... and a coherent expression of a philosophy.
Read the full review by Roewen Wishart.

Revolution in the Mailbox

by Mal Warwick

The Influential Fundraiser: Using the psychology of persuasion to achieve outstanding results

by Bernard Ross and Clare Segal

When I heard about the idea of using psychology to raise more money I couldn’t imagine how that would fit into my previous learning about the pyramids, loops and ladders that are so familiar to many of us fundraisers. The fact is – it doesn’t....
Read the full review written by Kimberley MacKenzie.

Tiny Essentials of Major Gift Fundraising

by Neil Sloggie

Major gift fundraising has been the ‘next big thing’ in a number of fundraising markets around the world for far too long. By this I mean that, although there is excellent work being done in this area by some not-for-profits, too many are held back by fear and lack of understanding...
Read the full review written by Charlotte Grimshaw.

Ogilvy on Advertising

by David Ogilvy

While the thought of another ‘must read’ book for fundraisers might overwhelm, you really should read this book, especially if you want to hire, or are currently working with an agency, want to apply for a job, have to write copy or are using ...

Read this special feature written by Christiana Stergiou.