The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising

An entertaining, informative, and eminently useful guide that draws on psychology, data, and real-world experience to explain what really drives successful fundraising.

In The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising, Jeremy Beer and Jeff Cain, cofounders of American Philanthropic, a leading consulting firm for nonprofit organizations, offer practical lessons and unconventional wisdom for both nonprofit leaders and novices in the art and science of raising money. Drawing upon a wealth of experience, deploying an army of anecdotes, and using eye-opening American Philanthropic survey data, the authors provide a brisk, irreverent, and supremely useful introduction to fundraising for charities and nonprofits.

The book explains the hows and whys of a variety of fundraising techniques, from direct mail to planned giving programs. It explores the benefits and pitfalls of prospect research, the keys to donor retention, and the essential elements of a healthy nonprofit culture. It gives insightful advice on making personal meetings count, soliciting foundations, and training young fundraisers. And it does so with sprightly prose and sharp observations. You'll never read another fundraising book quite like this one.

Expertly deflating the pretensions of those who would make fundraising a bureaucratic and esoteric profession, Beer and Cain elucidate the practical knowledge and relationship skills that still matter more than anything else. They make an impassioned plea for the importance of civil society to American democracy and build a compelling case for fundraising as an honorable component of a healthy civic culture. Philanthropy is not about bottom lines and return on investment—successful fundraisers provide a platform for donors to affirm their ideals, values, and morals.

Fundraising is serious, but learning about it needn’t be a chore. The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising is at once eminently practical and absolutely delightful.

JEREMY BEER is the cofounder and CEO of American Philanthropic, where he has helped more than 300 nonprofits fundraise. He is the author of The Philanthropic Revolution: An Alternative History of American Charity.

JEFFREY CAIN is a founding partner of American Philanthropic, a former executive in the nonprofit and philanthropic community, and is currently CEO of CrossFit, Inc. He is the author of Protecting Donor Intent: How to Define and Safeguard Your Philanthropic Principles.

Praise For The FORGOTTEN FOUNDATIONS of FUNDRAISING "Thoughtful, thorough, and well-written, this book is a productively irreverent reality check on the pervasive over-professionalization of fundraising. It provides plenty of simple, proven techniques for success from earnest advocates of traditional American charity and philanthropy done right, from the bottom up by neighbors helping neighbors." --Carl Helstrom, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation "Jeremy Beer and Jeff Cain are two of the most practical people in the philanthropic field. They use common sense and deep personal knowledge to puncture pretense, myths, and fads. The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising is wise and witty." --Tom Riley, Connelly Foundation "If you think fundraising is just a mechanical process of stock letters and robotic phone calls, you need the de-programming that this book can instill. Jeremy Beer and Jeff Cain know this important work inside and out. As they explain, the most successful fundraising efforts are thoughtful, personal, and strategic. Funders should be seen as friends and partners, not ATMs." --Lawrence W. Reed, Foundation for Economic Education Nonprofit fundraising has become complicated. It doesn't need to be. If you are reasonably bright and interpersonally normal, you already have the necessary skills to raise money for your nonprofit. In this fun, back-to-basics guide, Jeremy Beer and Jeffrey Cain reveal how to find donors and how to keep them, how to plan for organizational success and how to achieve it, and how best to employ mailings, meetings, events, donor clubs, planned giving, foundation outreach, and more in furtherance of your nonprofit's goals. Whether you are brand new to fundraising or are already an experienced hand, whether you are fundraising for a faith-based institution, policy group, school, human-services provider, local arts organization, or some other charity at the heart of American civil society, The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising will clear through the clutter to give you the essential knowledge and tools you need to succeed.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.