The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits

by Erik Hanberg

A practical step-by-step guide to fundraising that has helped thousands of small nonprofits around the country.
A Forbes.com Top 12 Must-Read Book For Nonprofit Employees.
The Little Book of Gold is dedicated to helping small (and very small) non-profits unlock their fundraising potential. Avoid common pitfalls and get tips on proven methods that work. This short guide helps new Executive Directors, active board chairs, and other key staff in charge of fundraising to learn the basics of professional and sustainable fundraising. Geared specifically for non-profits with small and very small budgets (a few hundred thousand dollars a year down to the smallest budgets).
Revised and expanded in 2011!
Major Topics in The Little Book of Gold
Learn how
Board Giving

Asking Outside the Board

Fundraising Events

New Grants

Thinking Big

Thinking Bigger

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Self Help, Reference

206 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2011

About the author

Erik Hanberg is the author of several books, including a science fiction trilogy, mysteries, and several nonfiction books for nonprofit leaders.

He currently lives in Tacoma with his wife Mary and their two children where he is also an elected official.

Reviews

[Carrie Kellenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book with my BookBub membership and it was free. Actually, it is still being offered for Free as a Kindle edition on Amazon, so I highly recommend taking advantage of this offer because this book really lives up to its name - It is definitely a little book of gold!

If you are a new Executive Director, a board chair or even someone in charge of fundraising at a small non-profit organization, this should be on your must-read list. It is packed with great information and proven fundraising methods that work.

The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits is an excellent resource guide for anyone who wants to learn the basics of sustainable fundraising and it is specifically geared towards non-profits with small budgets and non-existent budgets.

There are many things to like about this book, but one of the most important points that hit home for me is that it is useful for organizations that do not have a dedicated fund development staff.

Hanberg demonstrates just how much one key person in your organization can make things happen. It is well researched and well laid out, with specific methods and details to put into use instead of focusing heavily on theory. I thought the breakfast fundraising section was brilliant. Additionally, the author offers links to spreadsheets and other online tools that can be used to achieve your fundraising goals. One of the hardest things to do with fundraising is figuring out a way to ask people for money. This book offers simple ideas on how to ask people for big donations and when to host networking events.

I will continue to refer back to this book for additional ideas. It is short, concise, and absolutely worth reading.

[Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was exactly what it promised to be (which is rare). It was brief, practical, super-specific, and gave you a complete plan for fundraising. While a little more geared toward community non-profits, there was still great advice for all.

[Jeanie Linton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never imagined myself reading a book like this but it was just perfect. I've found myself on a fundraising committee of a very small nonprofit and this book was the exact length and content we needed. Hanberg's writing style is easy and straightforward. He includes only what is needed and what is practical. I read the kindle version because of it's cheaper price and have no regrets. If you'd like to take notes/highlight, buying the hard copy is suggested. I could not recommend this any more. It was an easy, quick, and enjoyable read. I quickly had new ideas before I even finished the book.

[Janet Lintala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice basic information for those new to non-profits, or who have always worked at very small non-profits. I appreciate how he steers the reader away from several common mistakes and myths about fund-raising and events, plus gives detailed information on a simple, effective, repeatable fund-raising event that I can take to the bank. Keeping in mind that I am new to the game, this book definitely raised my fund-raising "IQ" and I feel more confidant in my role on the board of a non-profit.

[Rob Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does a great job of demystifying the nonprofit fundraising process. It lacks in empirical evidence, relying on a pretty anecdotal approach to making its case. That being said, it is such a short read that it is a valuable book for anyone running or considering running a small nonprofit.

[Ed Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

I worked as a CFO for a university for several years and found this book to be right on point. The principles are ones that anyone involved in a not for profit organization needs to know and understand. A must read, and it’s in my favorites list.

[Sarah Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sections repeated themselves in what is clearly a publishing error. However the book overall was great especially for someone who has no experience in fundraising and big dreams of opening a nonprofit.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pancake breakfast

Ummm…it gave me a few ideas about fundraising and defined some things. There wasn’t anything magical in this book that solved all my problems, but it gave me a few ideas.

[Jacob Òjó-Neer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My more thorough review was accidentally deleted :(. Essentially, this is an “okay” book for beginner fundraisers, but many of the concepts are surface level. You’ll probably want to find additional resources, but it’s worth the read considering it’s short length.

[Bharat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great for people looking to file their 501c3s or incoming (or old!) Board members

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and succinct foundational base

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to fundraising for an NGO. Lots of useful advice. Would recommend.

[Lavonne Jarosz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned a lot but a bit outdated.

[Morgan Hovermale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas to try out!

[Stacy S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s exactly as advertised- short, easy to read, full of wisdom. It shows its age in a few spots but it was very informative and is a great resource.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book to help me in my new role of fundraiser. This was a quick read. It was full of great tips and guidance for small organizations. Excellent resource for a novice like me.

[Mikaela Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

This book actually made me laugh, more than once. A book about fundraising and dealing with board members made me laugh.

This book is ideal for:
• Obviously, small or very small nonprofits.
• Taking it a step further, those nonprofits who have board members.
• Nonprofits who leave fundraising as a last priority, behind all the mission-related stuff.

I won't repeat the synopsis, so aside from everything listed, here are some of the things I loved about this book:
• Very practical steps that could actually be followed in reality.
• Deals with the realities of running a small nonprofit, for example, having board members who are difficult, board members who love talking about fundraising events (raffle, dinner, golf day, anyone?), and even having no organised database of donors or donations.
• It uses clear methods and numerical examples, it isn't just about principles to follow.
• It is obvious the author knows what he's talking about and has a wealth of experience.
• It has tips for people who aren't comfortable with fundraising and asking for donations.

A few notes for consideration:
• The statistics in the book may not be applicable to non-American countries. Check your own country's average stats where possible.
• There are a lot of small mindsets that keep nonprofits from raising more money, not just practicalities. One thing missing from the book is dealing with these mindsets. For example, when directors/staff/board members actually don't want to raise money, because of a perspective of 'we are a charity and not-for-profit, not a business, we don't want to take people's money'. I've seen this in religious charities a bit.

This book should be in every nonprofit's office. It is invaluable.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits by Erik Hanberg helpful & concise. I did not read it straight through, but referred to it often.

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great tips and information. Especially loved the Breakfast fundraising section. Good and enjoyable writing style too.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific! Well-written, logically laid out, and full of resources. Will definitely be rereading and recommending.

[Jeffrey Restel]

$1.99

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

In five hours I went from "how the hell am I gonna raise all this money" to "I'm gonna fucking raise a bunch of money".

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

[Diana Evans]

This is a small book and an easy read if you have any interest in fund-raising. The strategies and processes were on point.

[catherine crockett]

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