Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work

by Ilona Bray JD

Overview

Key information to guide your charitable organization in attracting donors and raising money. 

This easy-to-read book combines the author’s legal and fundraising experience with advice and stories from over 50 experienced fundraising professionals. 

Offers practical guidance on the types of fundraising a new or small- to mid-size nonprofit can most realistically make use of, including engaging individual donors online and in person, planning special events, soliciting grants from foundations and corporations, and more.

Includes handy worksheets and sample letters. 

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413332292
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	02/01/2025
Edition description:	8th ed.
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Ilona Bray, J.D. is an award-winning author and legal editor at Nolo, specializing in immigration law, real estate, and nonprofit fundraising. She has been quoted as a real estate expert in publications across the country, including Money Magazine, Kiplinger, the New York Times, the Boston Herald, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Many of her books are consistent Nolo bestsellers, among them Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits, U.S. Immigration Made Easy, and Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home. She particularly enjoys interviewing people and weaving their stories into her books.







Bray's working background includes solo practice, nonprofit, and corporate stints, as well as long periods of volunteering, including an internship at Amnesty International's main legal office in London. She received her law degree and a Master's degree in East Asian (Chinese) Studies from the University of Washington. In her spare time she enjoys writing children’s books, going to open houses, and gardening.

Table of Contents

1. Your Fundraising Companion 2. Fundraising Tools 3. Developing Your Fundraising Plan 4. Attracting Individual Supporters 5. How to Keep the Givers Giving 6. Midscale and Major Donors 7. Funds From the Great Beyond: Bequests and Legacy Gifts 8. Special Events 9. Raising Money Through Business or Sales Activities 10. Seeking Grants From Foundations, Corporations, and Government 11. Creating Printed Communications Materials 12. Designing Your Website to Draw in Donors 13. Outreach by Traditional and Social Media Appendix Worksheets Index

Interviews

To do fundraising right primarily requires common sense, an interest in people, and a desire to tell the world about the work of your organization. Like many who’ve done development at a professional level, my first experiences were simply helping out within an organization for whom I worked in a different capacity. I didn’t do too badly—but I could have done so much better if I’d known what experienced fundraisers know.
There is a method and science to fundraising, and learning more can save an organization many false steps and wasted hours. Not to mention that nonprofits must operate within certain legal parameters, and certain mistakes by the development department could actually put the organization’s tax-exempt status at risk.

Editorial Reviews

"2019 Foreword INDIES Book Finalist." FOREWORD REVIEWS

"Now in an updated edition that covers the latest legal and tax restrictions in the United States, Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work is an accessible, plain-terms guide compiled from the experience of over 50 fundraisers, foundation staffers, journalists, and other professionals. Chapters address how to appropriately thank donors (and help them satisfy the IRS), how to attract legacy or inheritance gifts, tax rules for business activities designed to raise funds, research grant prospects, designing a website to draw in donors, outreach via both traditional and social media, and much more. "Test your nonprofit's donor-response experience. It's hard to know, from where you sit, what it's actually like to make an online donation to your organization. You might ask a friend or relative to do so (a few bucks is enough), then to tell you (honestly) how well your organization followed up. Did the 'thank-yous' come as promptly as expected?" An index and a wealth of sample documents and worksheets round out this "must-have" for every American nonprofit organization. It should be noted that no book, including Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits, can substitute for the counsel of a trained attorney. However, Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits can help the reader identify problematic situations where the hiring services of a trained attorney is a wise idea! Highly recommended." Money/Finance Shelf, Midwest Book Review

“If you have room for only one book on your fundraising shelf, Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits should be that book.” Advancing Philanthropy, published by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

“Provides everything one needs to know, from strategy development to practical tips. This is the inside scoop..." Bruce Sievers, Ph.D. & Senior Fellow, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

“Provides clear answers for nonprofits, with advice from fundraisers, foundation staffers and journalists.” San Diego Union-Tribune

“ Gets into the best ways to keep the money flowing in, including using the Web….” Accounting Today

From the Author: To do fundraising right primarily requires common sense, an interest in people, and a desire to tell the world about the work of your organization. Like many who’ve done development at a professional level, my first experiences were simply helping out within an organization for whom I worked in a different capacity. I didn’t do too badly—but I could have done so much better if I’d known what experienced fundraisers know. There is a method and science to fundraising, and learning more can save an organization many false steps and wasted hours. Not to mention that nonprofits must operate within certain legal parameters, and certain mistakes by the development department could actually put the organization’s tax-exempt status at risk.

From the Publisher