Books: Making Relationships Last

FS: How does this book address challenges fundraisers are seeing in this economy?

JM: In a competitive philanthropic environment like the one we are in now, fundraisers really need an edge. Building a reputation as a serious grantee, one who is responsive and responsible, is critical to developing and maintaining ongoing relationships with funders. As to the foundations themselves (many of which have lost up to 30 percent of their assets), increasingly they are under scrutiny from their own boards to demonstrate the effectiveness of their funding strategies. Selecting and awarding funds only to those nonprofits that are well-run and can demonstrate results is one way for foundation executives to satisfy their own boards' concerns.