Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits - Real-World Strategies That Work by Ilona Bray

Nonprofit organizations rely on fundraising to exist. Success or failure of many nonprofits depends on the ability to raise funds, because with the money to operate, the charitable mission and the tax-exempt status won’t mean much. An organization may have the best intentions, but without capital, and that means money, the success of the organization will be minimal if at all. That’s where a book like “Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work” by Ilona Bray, J.D., comes in. It is an extremely informative book, written in plain English, that features advice and stories from over fifty experienced fundraisers, foundation staffers, journalists, and more, regarding everything you need to know to get fundraising for your organization.

This book really is your fundraising companion, and right from the start it lays out what they book will be able to do for you. Then it delves into very informative chapters. The first focuses on fundraising tools, people, skills, and equipment and technology. From there, Chapter two helps you develop a fundraising plan. I think this is such an important step that is often neglected.

From there, chapter three looks at how you can attract individual supporters, and then in the next chapter there are strategies to keep the givers giving. Chapter six looks at midscale and major donors, while chapter seven focuses on funds from the great beyond, bequests and legacy gifts. The next chapters covers special events and how they can successfully help you raise money for your organization.

Chapter nine looks at raising money through business or sales activities, while chapter ten provides information on seeking grants from foundations, corporations, and government.

The next two chapters look at things that I didn’t really think of when I first got the book, but find they are very important pieces of the puzzle and plan. Chapter eleven is about creating printed communications materials such as brochures, newsletters, and annual reports. The next chapter is all about designing your website to draw in donors. The final chapter, thirteen, covers some strategies for outreach by both traditional and social media.

Like most Nolo books, there is an Appendix that contains various worksheets (10 in all) to assist with your fundraising, these include: Fundraising Strategy Chart, Grant Priorities Summary Chart, and a worksheet to check your website’s fundraising effectiveness, among others.

I wanted this book because I’m involved with a nonprofit, and I may be taking a much larger role with its fundraising in the next year. This is just the book to help me create a fundraising plan and take the organization to a higher level. There really are a lot of good strategies provided. I recommend it highly for anyone who needs to raise their nonprofit revenues to successfully fund their nonprofit’s mission.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior’s Edge. He is an expert on conflict and mediates and teaches conflict resolution and negotiation. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how to use the Warrior’s Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results, as well as resolve conflict and negotiate. Additionally, he teaches physical conflict skills in his Hapkido and Self-Defense courses, lectures, and seminars. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews.