Book Review: ‘Achieving Excellence in Fundraising’

It is imperative that nonprofit professionals have a range of skills. Professionals must have continued education through the years. You need to be courteous in thought and learn new techniques plus strategies. In the beginning of my development career, I was fortunate to understand fundraising concepts personally taught by Henry Rosso. He was one of the early leaders in the evolution of fundraising theory and practice.

As I was beginning to build my library on fundraising, I knew I had to obtain the book, “Henry Rosso’s Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising.” I am honored to have a personally signed book by Rosso. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to principles, strategies and methods. Rosso provided the foundation for this book through his personal philosophy of fundraising and understanding of the fundraising cycle.

These concepts are truly relevant today. He provides a fundraising approach, prepares an organization for fundraising, reviews methods through a giving pyramid approach, discusses how to manage the fundraising process, introduces the concept of research and shares ways professionals could be successful in the field of fundraising. It has been my go-to book throughout my career.

Can you imagine my joy and excitement when it was announced that Wiley Publishing had published the fifth edition of “Achieving Excellence in Fundraising”? I received an email from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Fund Raising School, located in Indianapolis, that the book was now available. 

The new edition, with more than 30 authors and 20 contributors to this piece, makes transformational advances to previous editions using best practices while adjusting to a shifting environment. Everyone responsible for fundraising, such as professionals, boards, donors, volunteers and individuals interested in nonprofit management, need to have this resource in their personal library.

The fifth edition provides professionals with philanthropic concepts for fundraising, an understanding of the changing dynamics of fundraising, an enhancement on the foundation for fundraising, the elements of fundraising mechanics and the donor base, the diversity of individual donors, short- and long-term strategies for major funders, and a very comprehensive view to the modern fundraising process for more than 526 pages.

Having lived in the world of Indianapolis fundraising and having been a student of fundraising academics for the 40 years, I have personally engaged and witnessed the evolution of Indiana University since the Center on  Philanthropy at Indiana University was established in 1987.

This development eventually led to the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the world’s first school dedicated to education and research about philanthropy, established in 2012. Students can receive a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in philanthropy. The Fundraising School, which is an integral part of the Lilly School of Philanthropy, has taught more than 50,000 people in 40 countries around the world in its 50 years of its existence.

The amazing education, research and study on the concept of fundraising goes full circle back to Rosso and his first edition of “Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising.” This book will continue to be the centerpiece of nonprofit management books in my personal library.

If you had only one book in your nonprofit library, I suggest securing the fifth edition of “Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising.” As you begin to read this book, you will develop your own personal philosophy of fundraising. When you finish the book, you will become a better resource development professional. This book is that comprehensive and profound.