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Philanthropy Revolution: How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships and Make a Difference
In the first book on philanthropy written from a donor’s perspective, businesswoman and philanthropist Lisa Greer lifts the lid on our charitable sector, with an authentic account that describes exactly how outdated the sector has become and why it’s at risk of collapse. Weaving in her story of instant wealth and philanthropy, Lisa showcases the latest research, as well as dozens of interviews with donors, nonprofit professionals and leading academics in the field. She also provides much-needed ethical solutions that apply to any business, • Upfront ways to ask for money
• Effective communications strategies
• Ways to be transparent from the outset
• How to curate meaningful events Philanthropy Revolution is the handbook all fundraisers, nonprofits and donors should be using to create trusting, authentic partnerships that can be sustained long-term. Philanthropy is changing dramatically and it needs nothing short of an intervention to succeed. In this book, Lisa Greer shows us how to 'save giving' by providing a clear path to success. With her help, the nonprofit world will see its donors energized, its charities better supported and its impact increased, all while building a more honest philanthropic culture.
• Effective communications strategies
• Ways to be transparent from the outset
• How to curate meaningful events Philanthropy Revolution is the handbook all fundraisers, nonprofits and donors should be using to create trusting, authentic partnerships that can be sustained long-term. Philanthropy is changing dramatically and it needs nothing short of an intervention to succeed. In this book, Lisa Greer shows us how to 'save giving' by providing a clear path to success. With her help, the nonprofit world will see its donors energized, its charities better supported and its impact increased, all while building a more honest philanthropic culture.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2020
53 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 6, 2021
Insights by donor to fundraisers
A book is written by a donor and is full of useful insights and pieces of advise to many fundraisers.
A book is written by a donor and is full of useful insights and pieces of advise to many fundraisers.
August 6, 2023
This book was recommended to me by a fellow nonprofit professional. It does have some helpful nuggets about fundraising and event planning strategy, as well as a unique major donor's perspective. Still, I found Philanthropy Revolution to be poorly written, unfocused and slightly obnoxious in certain parts.
Throughout Philanthropy Revolution, Greer does some name-dropping (Rosa Parks! Elton John!), hints that she sits on more boards and advisory panels than anyone could possibly keep track of, and reveals that she's frequently hit up for money by incompetent, tactless fundraisers. She often suggests that "the sector" is at risk of losing major donor support whenever one charity has a personnel scandal, or someone hosts an event without enough food. She massively generalizes, jumps to conclusions based on weird, irrelevant anecdotes, and fills her book with more sidebars than there is actual body text.
In some places, Greer's writing sounds like a junior high school student struggling through American history class, like this gem from a section about the origin of salons (her preferred type of philanthropic event): "The background is that, in the years after the slaves were freed, the economy in this country was overwhelmed. You'd think that folks would do the right thing by properly rehiring the many people who had previously worked as slaves, but that's not what happened. ... One of the really messed-up things that came out of the situation was the equivalent of a modern-day ad campaign, which depicted African Americans as rapists and criminals" (p. 286). I can't even imagine what she was trying to communicate here.
Greer's book takes a lot of space describing how she's been overlooked, disrespected or uncomfortably highlighted by various nonprofits that want her money. Big surprise! There are plenty of poorly run organizations, even well-funded ones, and poorly trained development professionals in the world. Similarly, there are plenty of incompetently run for-profit businesses with terrible customer service -- most of us encounter them on a daily basis. So I'm unclear why she thinks "the sector," as she refers to nonprofits broadly, needs to be put on a pedestal.
Another big problem is that Greer seems to be extrapolating her experience largely from the bubble of large Los Angeles-based charities. My experience in D.C. nonprofits has been very different, maybe because the level of extremely high-net-worth individuals simply isn't the same here. A $200 million organization is worlds apart from a scrappy start-up nonprofit with a budget of less than a million, but Greer never gets around to acknowledging the level of differentiation within the sector.
In Philanthropy Revolution, Greer spends 300+ pages advising me on how to do my job. Much of the advice is common sense and I did appreciate some of it. But I'd like to offer the author some advice as well: Consider supporting fewer organizations with your time and energy. Don't take it so personally if an email blast offends you in asking for more money. And don't worry so much about "the sector" -- organizations will rise and fall, but I expect there will always be causes that people choose to support.
Throughout Philanthropy Revolution, Greer does some name-dropping (Rosa Parks! Elton John!), hints that she sits on more boards and advisory panels than anyone could possibly keep track of, and reveals that she's frequently hit up for money by incompetent, tactless fundraisers. She often suggests that "the sector" is at risk of losing major donor support whenever one charity has a personnel scandal, or someone hosts an event without enough food. She massively generalizes, jumps to conclusions based on weird, irrelevant anecdotes, and fills her book with more sidebars than there is actual body text.
In some places, Greer's writing sounds like a junior high school student struggling through American history class, like this gem from a section about the origin of salons (her preferred type of philanthropic event): "The background is that, in the years after the slaves were freed, the economy in this country was overwhelmed. You'd think that folks would do the right thing by properly rehiring the many people who had previously worked as slaves, but that's not what happened. ... One of the really messed-up things that came out of the situation was the equivalent of a modern-day ad campaign, which depicted African Americans as rapists and criminals" (p. 286). I can't even imagine what she was trying to communicate here.
Greer's book takes a lot of space describing how she's been overlooked, disrespected or uncomfortably highlighted by various nonprofits that want her money. Big surprise! There are plenty of poorly run organizations, even well-funded ones, and poorly trained development professionals in the world. Similarly, there are plenty of incompetently run for-profit businesses with terrible customer service -- most of us encounter them on a daily basis. So I'm unclear why she thinks "the sector," as she refers to nonprofits broadly, needs to be put on a pedestal.
Another big problem is that Greer seems to be extrapolating her experience largely from the bubble of large Los Angeles-based charities. My experience in D.C. nonprofits has been very different, maybe because the level of extremely high-net-worth individuals simply isn't the same here. A $200 million organization is worlds apart from a scrappy start-up nonprofit with a budget of less than a million, but Greer never gets around to acknowledging the level of differentiation within the sector.
In Philanthropy Revolution, Greer spends 300+ pages advising me on how to do my job. Much of the advice is common sense and I did appreciate some of it. But I'd like to offer the author some advice as well: Consider supporting fewer organizations with your time and energy. Don't take it so personally if an email blast offends you in asking for more money. And don't worry so much about "the sector" -- organizations will rise and fall, but I expect there will always be causes that people choose to support.
August 4, 2021
Like any great piece of timely nonfiction, Lisa Greer and Larissa Kostoff’s new book Philanthropy Revolution: How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships, and Make a Difference is an exercise in mass summarization. The title, like that of an MLA position paper, entirely encapsulates the point Greer and Kostoff intend to make, complimenting them as succinct, presentationally prepared, and overall possessing an appropriate and learned sense of confidence in the rhetoric they choose to advocate for. Greer and Kostoff wisely tie the relevancy for a philanthropic revolution to events both proceeding, and being validated by, the Covid-19 pandemic. Like any suave politician or public advocate, they shrewdly use the current sociopolitical climate to shine a light on a problem that has long withstood any sort of lasting change within a field priding itself on selflessness, and on charity. The arguably duplicitous ladders of bureaucracy that have plagued even some of the most reputable philanthropic organizations across the years have been hard to publicly expose, Greer and Kostoff argue. The evidence was there, but in the court of public opinion response to take appropriate action and ramification was slow. But now, courtesy of the unprecedented effects of the next great pandemic, industries have been ravaged, people are desperate, and the typical, hierarchal echelons of once untouchable organizations are exposed on a disciplined, daily basis. The time is now, both women argue. There has never been a more clear and evident example of change agent necessity than in the face of something that has long-lasting, existential implications for every man, woman, and child across varying situational margins on the planet.
“When I started writing this book, I was driven by the conviction that the bottom would fall out of the world of nonprofits, something I saw happening in eight to twelve years,” write Greer and Kostoff. “What I didn’t envision was the crisis that would occur as we approached publication – a global catastrophe so severe that it amplified need in unprecedented ways, and also threatened the charities that would normally respond to this need.” They go on to elaborate, “In many ways, the title says it all…A global pandemic and the resulting economic crisis simply made the message that much more urgent. This is because the scale of what we’re facing in 2020, as well as its long-term consequences, will force those of us in the ‘helping’ fields to find solutions immediately. We’ll need to implement some of these solutions right away, adopting a triage approach that ensures our nonprofits survive in the short term and our beneficiaries are supported, too. Then we’ll have to rethink the way we do business, which is the point of this book in the first place, in order to protect our charities for decades to come.”
By utilizing a clear-cutting, no-nonsense sense of clarity, coupled with a positive, upbeat intonation, Philanthropy Revolution simply put is remarkable. Remarkable in its own right as a piece of much-needed, educational literature, and remarkable as a succinct argument for a way to rethink the modern-day philanthropic endeavor machine(s). As a writer myself, and by that profession a mandated, avid reader, I felt enlightened, invigorated, and ready to contribute.
“When I started writing this book, I was driven by the conviction that the bottom would fall out of the world of nonprofits, something I saw happening in eight to twelve years,” write Greer and Kostoff. “What I didn’t envision was the crisis that would occur as we approached publication – a global catastrophe so severe that it amplified need in unprecedented ways, and also threatened the charities that would normally respond to this need.” They go on to elaborate, “In many ways, the title says it all…A global pandemic and the resulting economic crisis simply made the message that much more urgent. This is because the scale of what we’re facing in 2020, as well as its long-term consequences, will force those of us in the ‘helping’ fields to find solutions immediately. We’ll need to implement some of these solutions right away, adopting a triage approach that ensures our nonprofits survive in the short term and our beneficiaries are supported, too. Then we’ll have to rethink the way we do business, which is the point of this book in the first place, in order to protect our charities for decades to come.”
By utilizing a clear-cutting, no-nonsense sense of clarity, coupled with a positive, upbeat intonation, Philanthropy Revolution simply put is remarkable. Remarkable in its own right as a piece of much-needed, educational literature, and remarkable as a succinct argument for a way to rethink the modern-day philanthropic endeavor machine(s). As a writer myself, and by that profession a mandated, avid reader, I felt enlightened, invigorated, and ready to contribute.
August 10, 2022
While I don’t share all of Greer’s views, I found this book to be very well written and really important to read as a non profit executive. It’s rare to hear a donor’s perspective on fundraising and Greer shares candidly. Definitely recommend to anyone engaged in non profit fundraising!
November 5, 2023
Dear fundraisers, swallow your pride and develop an appetite for honesty. This book dishes it out!
Can't wait to recommend it as required reading for my organization.
Can't wait to recommend it as required reading for my organization.
October 22, 2021
This book is a must read for new and seasoned fundraisers and nonprofit professionals at any level. It’s a well written and easy to digest how to (and how NOT TO) fundraising guide with special emphasis on soliciting from donors, especially wealthy ones. The author has packed this book full of data and statistics indicating she clearly did her research and homework rather than singularly relying on her own personal experiences (which are quite large and impressive) to drive home her major points. My only real complaint is that this book retails for $29.99 and for underpaid nonprofit professionals, the high price tag makes this book out of reach to buy enmasse to give as gifts to staff members, board members and donors. I still Highly recommend the book. And I will be scouring second hand and used book stores for this gem to give more copies away!
November 8, 2023
Having been on the giving and receiving ends of asking for philanthropic donations, Greer opens up about how to ask for money and why philanthropy matters to organizations of all sizes. Connecting research and anecdotes, Greer discusses how, who, and when to ask, effective communication strategies, planning large fundraiser events and more. Great read for those diving into this world or those trying to get to a deeper level.
January 4, 2021
Fresh and incisive look at the mechanism of philanthropy and how to adjust time worn practices and create more respectful and productive relationships between philanthropies and philanthropists for current times. And a pleasure to read.
June 8, 2023
I truly appreciate the donor insight to this book. If you have been doing this a long time and have been practicing relationship fundraising I don't think there is any new gems in it, but I do think it could be highly effective in sharing with other leaders in the organization who many times are bottom ine focused.
June 13, 2023
A good primer on philanthropy for those working in development written by a major donor to many nonprofits. The ideas are not revolutionary as the title suggests, but pragmatic from an interesting perspective that is rarely heard in fundraising texts.
January 19, 2022
Not quite the Revolution I thought it was going to be but as someone very new to fundraising it helped clarify what I need to do.
April 15, 2023
So many great insights into the donor mind and the process as a whole.
May 31, 2023
As a fundraiser, I learned so much from Greer. Her perspective makes a professional in the field look at donors in a completely new way.
April 13, 2025
Lisa is rich and she can do the job better than the seasoned professionals. Not really revolutionary but there are a few good tidbits.
May 1, 2024
Loved this book! Overall it’s a juicy and insightful window into the world of charitable fundraising from the perspective of a philanthropist (so for nosey fundraisers like me, it’s gold!).
I also love that it’s non academic. I find academic study of fundraising a bit weird. You need to learn by doing - it’s a vocational, relational practice. This book echoes this by peppering the pages with personal, real life examples (some of which will make your jaw drop) all of which will bring the experience of being a philanthropist to life.
The joy and purpose Lisa has found in her vocation sings through the pages and is infectious (I adore the fact that she and her husband took their time in buying a house because they wanted somewhere from which they could host fundraising events!). It’s very uplifting.
Although it’s only one person’s perspective, I’m a fundraiser of 20 years and recognise many of the situations and have seen them happen in real life (and of course the book references research and evidence to back up the points made).
Much of the advice Lisa and Larissa give feels reassuring to me as a major gifts fundraiser. My personal practice includes many of the principles described so (for better or worse?!) I feel cosseted in an echo chamber of both reassurance that I’m (largely) getting it right and wider frustration that poor practices abound.
I think there’s less pressure on UK based fundraisers given that major gifts forms less of the overall composition of charity budgets, possibly why practice differ somewhat?
Of course there are always new things to be learned and reminders of areas we can sharpen up on. For example, I’ll be reassessing my approach to Ambassador boards, recurring giving and assumptions around the ‘annual gift’.
I definitely have renewed confidence to push back against big gala events.
For a fundraiser that is unsure whether or not they’re doing it right, this book would be a great investment as there are loads of examples and suggestions for how to do things better. It’s a very practical book and is great for inspiration if you’re feeling tired or lacking in motivation.
Thank you Lisa and Larissa. Can’t wait for the next book.
I also love that it’s non academic. I find academic study of fundraising a bit weird. You need to learn by doing - it’s a vocational, relational practice. This book echoes this by peppering the pages with personal, real life examples (some of which will make your jaw drop) all of which will bring the experience of being a philanthropist to life.
The joy and purpose Lisa has found in her vocation sings through the pages and is infectious (I adore the fact that she and her husband took their time in buying a house because they wanted somewhere from which they could host fundraising events!). It’s very uplifting.
Although it’s only one person’s perspective, I’m a fundraiser of 20 years and recognise many of the situations and have seen them happen in real life (and of course the book references research and evidence to back up the points made).
Much of the advice Lisa and Larissa give feels reassuring to me as a major gifts fundraiser. My personal practice includes many of the principles described so (for better or worse?!) I feel cosseted in an echo chamber of both reassurance that I’m (largely) getting it right and wider frustration that poor practices abound.
I think there’s less pressure on UK based fundraisers given that major gifts forms less of the overall composition of charity budgets, possibly why practice differ somewhat?
Of course there are always new things to be learned and reminders of areas we can sharpen up on. For example, I’ll be reassessing my approach to Ambassador boards, recurring giving and assumptions around the ‘annual gift’.
I definitely have renewed confidence to push back against big gala events.
For a fundraiser that is unsure whether or not they’re doing it right, this book would be a great investment as there are loads of examples and suggestions for how to do things better. It’s a very practical book and is great for inspiration if you’re feeling tired or lacking in motivation.
Thank you Lisa and Larissa. Can’t wait for the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2024
For anyone working in the charity or non-profit sector, this is a must read. Written by a generous philanthropist who tells her personal story of how she entered the world of charity giving and some wonderful stories of her own experiences, good and bad. It's full of very clear and easy to read and understand advice on how charities should behave; how to ask for money, how to thank, what to do and more importantly, what NOT to do. You might think a lot of it's common sense, but some of the stories she tells are staggering ... how sometimes she's given a lot of money to a non-profit and the response has been - well - nothing at all! How to approach donors, how to interest them in your project, how and when to involve them. It's brilliant - and a fun and great read. Couldn't put it down. Thank you!
January 17, 2024
Lisa shares her insights from several viewpoints - as a Philanthropist, a Board member, a Mother, a Wife and a Fundraiser. She nails it on every level. I've been in the Fundraising field for nearly 30 years and by reading her book, I have learned new ideas, approaches, things to be mindful of when meeting donors, and been delighted to hear how right on she is.
Whether you're new to the Fundraising field or a seasoned veteran, Lisa's book will provide you with a unique perspective that is well worth the read. She provides real examples how Fundraiser's have approached her and her husband before and after coming into wealth. It's fascinating and I highly recommend her book.
Whether you're new to the Fundraising field or a seasoned veteran, Lisa's book will provide you with a unique perspective that is well worth the read. She provides real examples how Fundraiser's have approached her and her husband before and after coming into wealth. It's fascinating and I highly recommend her book.
December 11, 2023
Lisa Greer’s thoughtful exploration of the fundraising world on the brink of change is a fascinating read. As 30+ year veteran of fundraising, I couldn’t agree more with this book’s overarching theme, but in the same breath I know that every field’s evolution happens much slower, usually through some desperate event that forces change. Good statistics here and recommended reading lists, also lots of “yes!” moments for front-line fundraisers. Recommended.
March 21, 2022
I’m glad somebody finally said it!
August 20, 2024
Quite a different perspective. Not sure how reasonable it is without a huge ability to donate! But worth reading for ideas.
July 25, 2025
This was one of the worst “business books” I’ve ever read. The author manages to be incredibly boastful while regurgitating information that is generally common sense. Don’t waste your time.
Read
September 27, 2025DNF around 40%
August 15, 2024
This book took me almost 2 years to finish but it was interesting 🤷🏻♀️
February 19, 2022
Highly recommend!
An honest perspective of the current state of philanthropy, how it’s gone off the rails, and how we can bring it back on track. Lisa’s qualms with the industry are shared by many, but vocalized by very few, making the act of writing this book a feat in and of itself. Standing up for your beliefs can be difficult, especially when they challenge age-old norms, but when guided by empathy, authenticity, and a desire to do good, you can start a revolution. A Philanthropic Revolution - that is what this book hammers home.
The content will not sit well with some readers as it suggests shaking-up the status quo, but for those truly wanting to make a difference in the industry, I can’t recommend this book enough. The book contains a mix of real-life anecdotes (some good, some bad, and some ugly), fact-based statistics, and suggestions on simple ways to implement positive change across the industry. The short and succinct nature of each section make it easy to flip through, and near impossible to put down.
It’s clear Lisa’s perspective is one of honesty and stems from the desire to do better- individually and as a collective.
Keep fighting the good fight- More people than you know share your sentiment and are following your lead!
An honest perspective of the current state of philanthropy, how it’s gone off the rails, and how we can bring it back on track. Lisa’s qualms with the industry are shared by many, but vocalized by very few, making the act of writing this book a feat in and of itself. Standing up for your beliefs can be difficult, especially when they challenge age-old norms, but when guided by empathy, authenticity, and a desire to do good, you can start a revolution. A Philanthropic Revolution - that is what this book hammers home.
The content will not sit well with some readers as it suggests shaking-up the status quo, but for those truly wanting to make a difference in the industry, I can’t recommend this book enough. The book contains a mix of real-life anecdotes (some good, some bad, and some ugly), fact-based statistics, and suggestions on simple ways to implement positive change across the industry. The short and succinct nature of each section make it easy to flip through, and near impossible to put down.
It’s clear Lisa’s perspective is one of honesty and stems from the desire to do better- individually and as a collective.
Keep fighting the good fight- More people than you know share your sentiment and are following your lead!
December 29, 2025
I come back to this book every year knowing there’s new application to be found in every anecdote. Lisa provides a genuine, unapologetic view into what this generation of major donors looks for in charity support. Hint: it’s not “coffee” turned “soft ask.”
Be real, be authentic. Ask your donors how they want to be engaged and.. shocker.. LISTEN!
Highly recommend. Renewed recommendation each time I revisit the text.
Be real, be authentic. Ask your donors how they want to be engaged and.. shocker.. LISTEN!
Highly recommend. Renewed recommendation each time I revisit the text.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews