The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications: Real-World, Field-tested Strategies for Raising More Money

I had to completely change my approach to writing fundraising materials for a small NFP. As a former ad agency copywriter, this book provided me with a set of best practices to follow—and they work.Asking for money for a charity is a whole different ball game than writing an ad or writing for a website or blog. You have to change your style accordingly. This book will tell you how. I didn't want to re-invent the wheel and our small organization can't afford to learn through trial and error. Donations are our lifeblood. This book quickly brought me up to speed, as well as the director and other board members.It's a quick read, but packed with excellent information. I had highlighting on every page when I finished reading it. I highly recommend this book and the author's blog as well.

My workplace writing students are reading this book in conjunction with their service learning projects. It's an easy read, and it has a wealth of great information that the standard business writing textbook doesn't cover. Brooks has a ton of real-world experience to share. If you want to write well for nonprofits, you should give this book a shot. There's absolutely nothing "commonsense" about it--that's the cool thing about this book--much of what Brooks teaches us is that what seems like good writing in other contexts is actually completely ineffective for nonprofit fundraising.

I've been in the non-profit world on some level for almost 30 years and this short little book is one of the clearest guides for effective writing that I've seen. While an excellent reminder for an 'old pro' like me, it is an essential guide for those just starting out in the field and is an important resource for volunteers and board members. Jeff Brooks presents the usual counter-intuitive writing strategies that make for compelling and effective donor communications in a way that any pro or layperson can grasp. In other words, he practices what he preaches! So start your development and PR/marketing subcommittees off with this book, then feel free to move on to other excellent, more in-depth offerings by Mal Warwick, Tom Ahern, and others. I just ordered 6 copies for volunteers and board members to read. After reading this little gem, I'm sure you will do the same!

This brief paperback is packed with gems. Wisdom. Inspiration. Creativity. More importantly it is direct and honest. $22 for this little paperback, you gotta be kidding! I assure you. This quick read is worth your money, your organizations budget and your precious time.Every volunteer, committee or board member is certain they know how to raise money. Worse yet, your executive director, president, Dean, board chair knows best. Early on in the book, Mr. Brooks equips you to work with self-appointed well meaning philanthropy geniuses. He says, “Fundraising is a profession. It has a body of knowledge and a set of principles. It’s not a jerry-rigged monstrosity created by amateurs and volunteers. It’s not a dumbed-down version of commercial marketing.”From here he launches into reminders of what you do and why. What raises money and what does not? The topic is direct mail. But reminders abound of the importance of the case, the donor, the solicitation and stories. You find yourself eager to start the next appeal letter. Or just to sit down and read the book again to bathe in the supportive and familiar and ponder at the permission Brooks gives to lighten up and be real. To grin from ear to ear as he debunks all the shared myths. Has he been in the hallways of your workplace! Wow, you are not alone and defenseless.You will not be surprised that donors are your heroes. But do you know to ask 6 or 7 times, make the letter long and ignore grammar? That the PS always gets read? This book is not espousing fundraising art or philosophy. It is a pragmatic unabashed guide about what you need to do to raise money. Veteran Brooks clearly outlines pragmatic tested tactics that have brought in gifts over time. You may not like them or believe them, but you must use them because they work.You will find yourself smiling and seeing the faces of your cohorts. Brooks has worked with these same team members who constantly offer you their unfounded comments, criticism and input. While the fundamental truths resound with you. You also get affirmation even scientific proof of what you know from listening to donors and testing letters yourself. Give this little expose to those who rewrite and edit your appeal, or take it home to their English major or literature scholar. Agree that you don’t have to agree, but that you want to raise money.The tenets are simple, but using all the wisdom is not easy. This book will put you to work. All the while you are taking the mantel, practicing the profession and doing what the donor wants. This can’t help but impact your success and inform all your communication. Read it. Do it. Share it. Celebrate the results.The next time you leave another meeting with more advice about how to do your job from people who “don’t get it”, just hold this book and smile. Pick a page or two to read. Better yet, turn to the last chapter, Proud to be a Fundraiser. Know you are not alone. You know your profession and you have listened well to a seasoned, successful mentor’s best advice for success. This book put best practices at your fingertips

Intially, I was skeptical about this book. All of the reviews seemed to be from people who knew the author or are professional copywriters, and they were a little too persuasive and polished. "This is the best fundraising book ever," etc.I'm 20something fundraiser getting a crash course in the science of fundraising. I've never met the author nor do I plan do. I'm in online fundraising, but these concepts translate easily.This book is a great summary of the concepts I've discovered over the last 6-8 months about effective fundraising. It's the sort of book that gives you a foundation. It would would be great to come back to before you write copy or use it to get everyone in your organization on the same page about the purpose of your fundraising communications.I finished my copy last night and passed it off to my colleague this morning. I want my supervisor and management team to read it. Soon.The book reads like great fundraising copy, which means it's a fast read. It's entertaining and uses stories. I sat down last night to read a chapter, and was 34 pages into the book before I looked up.This book's strength is how quickly it engages the reader and distills the key points of great fundraising writing. It would be an excellent book to give to anyone who writes, reviews or edits your fundraising communications.

Needed this book for a class I was taking. The book itself is great, the way the chapters are set up makes it an easy read.

Great tips - easy to follow and to implement.

For experienced fundraisers this book is a great reminder of why we write the way we do and for the novice it's an absolute bible.