It's all about the donor
350710
As someone who's been working in nonprofit fundraising for more than 20 years, I'm all for giving worthy organizations as many resources as possible to help them raise the money they need to do good work. This guide is a a great tool to have handy, useful both for heads of large national charities and small or start-up community groups. While not without some flaws, "Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits" makes the fundamental point that essential "real-world strategy that works" is involving the donor in the life and work of your organization -- seeing her not as an ATM, but as a true partner: they also serve who "only" write checks.

My particular area of expertise is direct marketing, primarily direct mail, fundraising, and so I was dismayed to see author Ilona Bray take the somewhat disparaging tone toward DM that people in more "sophisticated" areas of the development field often do -- as when she, for example, contrasts fundraising mail with "other more substantive" ways of communicating with donors (p. 148). Bray repeats many of the urban legends of direct mail, like "nobody reads long letters," and is so concerned with "wearing out your supporters' goodwill" (p. 149) that she encourages organizations not to mail their donors more than three or four times a year (not counting, of course, the more substantive communications that downplay asking for help). It's hard to see how some of the organizations I've worked with that mail their supporters 12, 18, or even 24 times a year have managed to stay in business at all if donors are really that easily put off. Here, much of the author's information is interpretive or anecdotal. For instance, she tells a story about a "peeved donor" who quit giving because she was getting so much mail from a given organization, without inquiring into whether the organization was mailing so often because that had in fact proven to be the most efficient and effective fundraising plan. Every fundraising professional has stories about clients who react more strongly to one or two phone calls complaining about an appeal than they do to hundreds or thousands of supporters who not only did not complain, but sent in checks in response to that appeal. It's disconcerting to see that kind of reaction essentially endorsed in this guide.

(Also, I have to say that some of the sample fundraising letters reprinted here are not really that great, and one in particular, were I the relevant creative director, I'd have sent back to the writer with "Try again" written across the top.)

Bray's analysis of who gives and why was not bad, except she was strangely silent on the question of donors' religious motivations. Even if yours is a non-religious charity, chances are the bulk of your donors are religious themselves. I encourage interested parties to read&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Who-Really-Cares/dp/0465008232/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Who Really Cares</a>&nbsp;by Arthur C. Brooks for more about this important insight.

The above gaps and weaknesses aside, this guide is, as I say, a useful tool, particularly on the mechanics of planning fundraising campaigns, involving volunteers and staff, recognizing potential legal and tax hurdles, and communicating your message across a variety of media. Putting the donor front-and-center in your organization -- giving her a figurative or even literal seat on your board of directors -- is the essential element of success. The world needs more effective, donor-powered charities, and this guide can help make that come to pass.
1522408
The concept of a soul intrigued me, then it got deeper into the life of those involved. The doctors, therapists and of course the donor recipient. Excellent writing.
1295337
The Gift of Love by Amy Clipston is powerful in this book of her biography/memoir. I was caught up in the story from the start as Amy grabbed my attention with being sandwiched between two semi trucks in an accident. Her guardian angel was watching out for Amy and had a purpose for sparing her life.

Amy goes back to her childhood, meeting the love of her life and other events that created a beautiful story of a lady who knows where her strength, love, hope, peace, joy and help comes from at all times with her source being in her Savior Jesus Christ. I appreciate Amy being open about her feelings and thoughts as so many Christians want to sugarcoat their true emotions and thinking pattern. Amy give readers full detail of Joseph Clipston's health issues, struggles and eventually being paired for a kidney swap at John Hopkins Hospital. Amy's determination to save her husband's life showed true sacrificial love just as her Savior had shown her. Readers will be encouraged, strengthen, and inspired to love their spouse and others unconditionally at all times no matter the circumstance.

Amy ended the book with encouraging others to be an organ and blood donor. I'm glad I can say I'm a regular blood donor and have already sign to be an organ donor. I appreciate Amy sharing your story openly to the public. God bless you, Joe, Zachary, Matthew and your mothers along with your paired kidney swap couple with many years of health, happiness and the blessings of God.
1013405
Fabulous read!!!! This book takes you full circle with the before, during and after of Eds heart transplant journey! The end is a beautiful story of why donating life is SO important!!!! My precious grandchild was an organ donor and for this another precious child lives on!!!!
849649
When fourteen-year-old Amelia learns she will be getting a heart transplant, her fear and guilt battle with her joy at this new chance at life. And afterward when she starts to feel different--dreaming about figure skating, craving grape candy--her need to learn about her donor leads her to discover and explore Eagan's life, meeting her grieving loved ones and trying to bring the closure they all need to move on.

Told in alternating viewpoints, In a Heartbeat tells the emotional and compelling story of two girls sharing one heart.

With three kids of my own I can't imagine the heart-breaking anguish of having a chronically ill child, especially something as nerve-wracking as a heart transplant patient where your childs life depends on the death of someone else.

I've seen movies and heard stories about people who have received transplants seeking out their donors families but I was especially intrigued by the fact that some people who have had these transplants actually feel emotions and urges that their donors had. Its weird but cool at the same time!

Although I know there is a large audience for the sappy, make you cry, tear-jerkers this book, for the most part, is not one of them! It's better than that...the story of Eagan and Amelia and how their destinies ultimately intersect will keep you turning the pages. What happens to Eagan after she realizes she is dead is a little mystery in itself...where is she? The story of Eagan's relationship with her mom will hit home with any parent or teen who struggles to communicate with each other and the possible repercussions of what happens if there isn't another day to say I'm sorry.

Amelia's search for her donor, her new found energy and the boy who helps her through it all are other great aspects to the story. I really enjoyed this one!
3806392
Generosity is infectious and contagious. This book is a collection of generous people who were bold in giving. It is a quick read, not unlike Chicken Soup for the Soul, yet all centered around the power of giving. There are plenty of funny moments and tearful moments, so have some tissue ready. I've followed many of their videos and having this collection of I LIKE GIVING stories in print is a great way to share the love.
2346150
When you read a title like I Like Giving you might immediately think, This is a book telling me to tithe, or give bigger offerings to my church, or support my local charity. And you would be dead wrong. Brad Formsmas book isn't really about giving money away, its about giving yourself away.

Brad writes, When we choose to give, we change, and the people around us change. When we move from awareness to action, miracles happen. When we allow giving to be our idea, a world of possibilities opens up before us, and we discover new levels of joy.

Indeed, Brad weaves together his own personal stories, with stories from other givers, and even a healthy dose of medical and psychological research data to show us just how life-transforming and joy-producing it is when we are giving people. Not only are the gift receivers benefitted, but so are the gift givers.

Let me state it again: this book isn't about giving your money to a charitable organization or a church; its about you seeing a need and finding a way to take care of that need. If everyone took on this mindset, just imagine how our communities would change!

One final thought from author Brad FormsmaI don't think we can ever overestimate just how profound the effects of giving can be. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. The reality is that other people are watching how we live our lives, and what we do can have extraordinary effects in our communities. Generosity is for all of us. It is available to all of us, even when the cultural tide is moving in the opposite direction. Why not be brave and live differently? (emphasis added)

Let I Like Giving be a springboard for you to live differently and to make a difference where you live!
1453684
Yes, there was a lot of strange twist and turns that didn't make a whole lot of sense, although it was different. Mryon is approached by his "ex" to help her save her son's life. She then drops the bombshell. He's shell shocked when he learns the boy is his son. He begins to help find the donor that would save his son's life which took a lot strange twist and turns, only to have the donor "taken away". During all of this, a unique bond is developed between is own father and son.  It's one of those unwritten, non-mushy male bonding only we males understand.  It is a heart-felt story to let people know that there are others  who need Bone Marrow Donors.  I've read Tell No One, and it's still #1 with me.
349999
MIA IS A SINGLE MOM WHO IS ABOUT TO FACE WHAT NO PARENT WANTS TOO. HER BABY IS SICK. AND ONE WAY TO HELP HIM IS TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY FOR THE STEM CELL BLOOD. THERE WAS A MATCH BUT HE PULLED BACK FROM THE SPERM DONATION PROGRAM SO NOW HER ONLY OPTION IS TO APPROACH HIM HERSELF AND ASK FOR HIS HELP.

TIA IS BURIED IN DEBT AND THE ONLY WAY OUT WAS TO DONATE SPERM WHICH WOULD PAY VERY WELL AND CUT HIS DEBT DOWN. HOWEVER HE PULLED OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE CAUSE HE FELT WEIRD.

WHEN MIA FIND TIA TO BEG FOR HIS HELP SHE NEVER INTENDED FOR FALL FOR HIM. BUT TIA NOT ONLY HELPED FIND A DONOR FOR A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT BUT WAS WITH HER IN HER TIME OF NEED.

HOWEVER THINGS DO NOT GO ACCORDING TO PLAN. AND AFTER A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY MIA PUSHES EVERYONE INCLUDING THE MAN SHE LOVES, TIA, AWAY. AND AFTER A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT BRINGS THEM BACK TOGETHER SHE REALIZES HER MISTAKE.
771793
Omar and Bernard explain what motivates donors to give, and more importantly, they show how you can use this knowledge to significantly increase support for your good cause.  Fundraisers would be hard pressed to find a better use of the time it will take to read this book.
2779218
Dr. Polivy writes with clarity and authority about the importance of cultivating relationships with people. She specifically focuses on the people  who want to donate to your organization, but her advice about cultivating donors , is good for cultivating all relationships with people who like to help out. The book supplies a model that is easy to use, is full of good advice and very well written.
1887360
Harvey McKinnon's brilliant book literally delivers what it says on the cover. If you haven't got a monthly giving proposition you're already well behind, but this book will quickly get you back in front. If you are recruiting monthly donors, Harvey's book will help you to do it better. Harvey McKinnon is acknowledged around the world as the Pope of monthly giving. 'Hidden Gold' is a readable, entertaining, informative guide to the most lucrative fundraising activity of all, after legacies (bequests). You can't afford not to have it on your bookshelf, with at least two more copies circulating among your fundraising colleagues.
477372
If you would like to get back in touch with that wonderful feeling of giving to others who need help, The Gift is my prescription for you. Too many people feel like they cannot give very much unless they are rich like Bill Gates, talented like a singing star, or as famous as a princess.  But we can all share our love, our understanding, a kind word, a prayer, and whatever we have.  With God's help, that's often enough.

Richard Paul Evans does a remarkable job of showing how hungry the world is for love and appreciation in The Gift.  There's emotional starvation all around us among those who have the riches of the world and covet those riches.

The book's main weakness is that the story isn't explicitly tied into Biblical Christian lessons except in the dust jacket's front flap and an opening quote from James 1:17, such as the ways we can pray for others to be healed and lay hands to assist that healing when we have faith enough.  In fact, the book is suggests that healing is something that is physically harmful . . . contrary to Biblical evidence to the contrary.  But if you enjoy the kind of amorphous spirituality that many authors like Mitch Albom favor, The Gift is a wonderful gift to readers.

Some will undoubtedly see parallels to A Christmas Carol in that the book involves considerable consideration of past, current, and future life for the book's narrator and there's a fragile child involved who will remind some of Tiny Tim.  If that was the intent, I thought that the plot was developed in such a way that it made for interesting and unexpected twists and turns while employing a formula that we all know so well.  The only weaknesses in the plot that some may be concerned about are that complications are unraveled a bit too easily, but that seems appropriate for a book about miracles.

I also enjoyed learning a little more about Tourette's syndrome.  Like many, my perceptions seem to have been based on misperceptions.  As the brother of a lupus survivor, I also was pleased to see a little awareness created for that discouraging disease.

May God bless you with His gifts!
3774125
The overwhelming task of raising funds for the first time in my life has led me to many books on the subject.  My conclusion was that I either needed to change my personality or abandon my very personal journey of bringing Consolari from idea to reality.  Ron's greatest gift for me was articulating that those that give are not wallets but human beings that love their families, have their worries and love humanity.  They have very certain priorities when it comes to their transcendent gift of time and dollars and to force a union for money is not a sustainable model and certainly not a way to build relationships.  The diversity of giving and the spirit in which it is given seems obvious but the machine called fundraising is so robotic and manufactured.  Ron's wealth of experience is important but his ability to teach that the there is a beautiful process of partnering with others that want to make a difference has more than educated me, he gives those of us with belief and confidence permission to also be authentic and honest.  A must read!
1065049
This procedure can open up many fields to the betterment of the human race. Right now it is targeted at a few conditions understudy. But just reading this short story has opened up my mind to the endless possibilities that this procedure will in the future be opened to.
But it will take time, money and a concerted effort from not only the medical field but the general public to address the many bridges that must be crossed. This book is an opening round to bring it to the attention of everyone.
1571006
Our family celebrates the holidays by donating to favorite causes, but I've always wondered whether my dollars were being used appropriately.  Many of us take part in the United Way, whose catalog shows each charity's administrative costs, an indicator of how much of our gift actually goes to those in need.  However, MacAskill's book goes far beyond a simple percentage to provide us a method for evaluating charitable foundations' effectiveness, identify those focused on the most serious needs and whose interventions are uniquely powerful and unduplicated by other groups.  In a world where we are bombarded by many "worthy causes" seeking our support, we owe it to ourselves to contribute our resources where they will do the most good - to groups who are saving the most lives and meeting unmet needs by helping people develop themselves and their communities.  You'll probably be disappointed to find that your cherished causes don't appear in the short list (mine didn't), but consider the methodology, and you'll develop a stronger understanding of how to maximize the impact of your giving.
1407303
Hello Readers,
I loved this book. The topics of discussion are timely and important. I never viewed donor insemination as being like adoption, but the comparison of genetic bewilderment is fasinating. I am a donor (DI) mother who believes in disclosure and this book brought that idea home. Secrecy kills families and my children have the right to know how they were created. The poetry was touching and I certainly did not agree with everything I read. But I did find myself in this book and felt heard. Finally a book for all opinions, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I hope you enjoy it too.