The Little Book of Gold

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).

Learn how to:

• Approach a Board of Directors about board giving and "ask without asking"
• Deal with different kinds of board members - those who don't want to give, who see themselves as "rebels," those who are already good givers, new board members, and more.
• Set up monthly giving for board members
• Increase board giving a year later

• Ask without sounding desperate
• Build more monthly donations
• Get "loose change" donations
• Set up online giving
• Thank donors so they want to give again

• Avoid events that suck your time for not-enough money
• Get more money out of events you currently throw
• Set up one of the most lucrative fundraising events that no one ever thinks of

• Be your best self
• Find new grant opportunities easily
• Get your foot in the door

• Build your donors from the year before
• Set up donor levels without giving away too much
• Stay friends with donors

• Evaluate whether your non-profit can handle a capital campaign
• Make your organization open for planned giving