Favorite Books

I developed this page for your convenience and mine.

For you — whether you’re a veteran nonprofit leader or fundraiser, starting out fresh from college or making a mid-career leap, here are some of the best titles to move ahead your career, your search, and knowledge of the nonprofit world.

For me — when I recommend a book, I simply say “it’s on my web site,” saving both of us the time of a lengthy description.

By way of full disclosure — when you click on the picture or description below, it will take you to the Barnes & Noble web site. Yes, Fundraising Talent gets a small bit with every purchase. Again — more for your convenience, it won’t pay the rent (and it doesn’t increase your price).

• Careers in Fundraising
  (AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series), Vol. 1 by Lilya D. Wagner, Timothy L. Seiler
  The only resource on the market that discusses fundraising as a career path. — Matt
• Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters: 400 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job
  by Jay Conrad Levinson, David E. Perry
  A spin off from the classic directed specifically to job seekers. — Matt
• Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships
  by Jeffrey H. Gitomer
  An excellent resource on networking. — Matt
• Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You through the Secrets of Personality Type
  by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron-Tieger
  Ever wonder why some jobs just didn’t “fit,” and others were perfect? — Matt
• Transitions 25th Anniversary Edition
  by William Bridges
  Everyone should read this book; there really is a pattern to the changes in our lives. — Matt
• The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World
  by Marti Olsen Laney
  No, they’re not weird, they’re different! If you THINK you know an introvert, read this to get the inside scoop. — Matt
• Go It Alone! The Secret to Building a Successful Business on Your Own
  by Bruce Judson
  An excellent system for working your own business or working your search. — Matt
• The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
  by Malcolm Gladwell
  A modern classic that has put words into our 21st century lexicon. How will your career reach its “Tipping Point”? — Matt
• How to Work a Room: The Ultimate Guide to Savvy Socializing in Person and Online
  by Susan RoAne
  An essential skill for any job search. — Matt
• Book Yourself Solid: The Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even if You Hate Marketing and Selling
  By Michael Port
  All the tools you’ll need to promote your service enterprise. — Matt
• Getting Started in Consulting
  by Alan Weiss
  If you’re thinking about consulting, start here. Learn from Weiss so you don’t have to learn through trial by fire and lots of errors! — Matt
• Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits
  by Ilona M. Bray
  A fine textbook on the variety and types of fundraising. — Matt
• Relationship Fundraising: A Donor-Based Approach to the Business of Raising Money
  by Ken Burnett
  All fundraising is based on relationships. In case you forgot, Burnett tells us why this concept is central to all philanthropy.  — Matt
• The Zen of Fundraising
  by Ken Burnett
  If you’re in fundraising, this is an essential. If you’re in nonprofit leadership, then it’s extremely valuable, and if you’re a volunteer or considering breaking into the work professionally, Burnett is a fine translator between your world and your favorite nonprofit’s. — Matt
• Raising Funds for Your Child’s School: Over Sixty Great Ideas for Parents and Teachers
  by Cynthia Francis Gensheimer
  A secret handbook that I’d pull out whenever my child’s teacher would say, “So I hear you’re a fundraiser…” — Matt
• Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising
  by Eugene R. Tempel (Editor), Hank Rosso, 2nd edition.
  Achieving Excellence is a super resource on a variety of fundraising techniques. — Matt