Raising More Money: A Step-by-step Guide to Building Lifelong Donors

by Terry Axelrod

Nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers who are passionate about the mission of their organization but tired of the old model of raising funds will be inspired by this incisive and practical manual. Fundraising veteran and Raising More Money founder Terry Axelrod shows how nonprofit organizations—regardless of size, location, or mission—can become financially self-sustaining. A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Lifelong Donors has been nominated by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management for its 11th Annual Terry McAdam Book Award for the most inspirational and useful new book published that makes a substantial contribution to nonprofit management, management consultancy, or the advancement of the nonprofit sector. The third edition of this fundraising guidebook expands on key aspects of the Raising More Money Model, including fresh material -How to customize the Cultivation Superhighway for each of your donors -How to design a cultivation/recognition system you can leave as a legacy -How to ask naturally, with a focus on donor readiness -How to manage relationships with existing donors online and convert newly acquired online donors to in-person donors

266 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is out of print now, and so in a way I'm coming to it 20 years too late.

There is a bit that is dated from the book - namely, that it pre-dates a lot of online advancements in fundraising and also a rather optimistic pre-GFC view of the world that seemed to think if charities just followed these methods, in 20 years, they could all have massive endowments and live off the interest. I'm not 100% sure if that worked out that way, but I suppose it's good to dream?

But the nuts and bolts of the system - point of entry events, follow-up, units of service, etc - are all very good. I borrowed her idea of Units of Service and it instantly changed how we were able to construct the ask at a fundraising dinner I was organising.

I wouldn't mind buying a copy just to have on hand for future reference.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a work book, this was eye opening for my role in a small nonprofit. I've heard Terry speak and much of this was reinforced with this book. The idea of a one-hour intro event is JUST what my org needs and I'm excited to implement it. The shift to permission-based marketing is also a relief.

[Carol Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource for fund development in nonprofit organizations.