Recommended Books

Every development officer who is launching a capital campaign needs to keep this handy guide at their fingertips. Its bulleted, scannable format will help you quickly assess your organization's internal and external readiness for a successful capital campaign: Are you ready for them? Internal readiness topics include organizational structure, giving history, staffing, the board, non-board volunteers, public image and the organization's level of technology. Are they ready for you? External readiness covers preliminary planning, making the case, planning study interviews, and hiring and working with consultants. The booklet includes a handy Campaign Readiness Evaluation checklist, to identify if your organization is ready (or not!) to conduct a campaign.  Read more

The definitive annual report on who gives what to whom in America, Giving USA 2007 provides you with charts, data and reference material to guide your organization's charitable giving efforts. Published continuously since 1955, Giving USA, produced by Giving USA Foundation, is the one reference tool every non-profit organization should have in their library. Not only can you find out statistics on who gave in 2006 (Individuals, Bequests, Corporations and Foundations), you can find out about the sectors that received donations that year (Religion, Health, Education, International Affairs, Public-Society Benefit, Human Services, Arts/Cultural/Humanities, Environment/Animals and Foundations).  Read more

In Governance for Collaboratives: A Guide to Resolving Power and Conflict Issues Joan Roberts explores: * Collaboration as a tool for change (not a panacea) * Member self interest * Using collaboratives as a tool to address complex problems * Whether collaboration can provide a critical mass for large scale change * The unique characteristic of a collaborative where "everyone has a stake but no one owns it" * The convening role * The tension for collaborative partners in wearing two hats (their own organization and the collaborative) * Having the right people at the table * Organization policies for collaboratives and its member organizations * How to address power imbalances * Unlearning traditional ways of organizing  Read more

For over a century, the United States has stood as a beacon of prosperity and democracy, proof that big business and big dreams could flourish side by side. Yet few Americans realize the crucial role that generosity plays in keeping that fragile balance. And now, with gated communities, oppressive personal debts, shrinking government, and tax and welfare reform crusades, that essential moral glue is at risk of melting away.  Read more