The Fundraising Habits of Supremely Successful Boards: A 59-Minute Guide to Assuring Your Organization's Future

I serve on one non-profit Board, so naturally when I was browsing and came across THE FUNDRAISING HABITS OF SUPREMELY SUCCESSFUL BOARDS by Jerold Panas, I just had to get it. The fact that its subtitle promised me that I could read it in 59 minutes made it even more appealing . . . what's best of all: the ideas contained in the book made sense . . . and they work! For example, there was this one: Not only is it good manners to thank donors, it's fiscally prudent. It costs a whopping 4 1/2 times the resources, staff and energy to acquire a new donor as it is to keep a current one. Nothing profound, yet something that we forget all too often--regardless of our field of endeavor. Then there was the following: Givers give. Which explains why at the end of your campaign, if you're short of goal, you cal on those who have already given. You don't go to those who earlier said, "call on me later." Chances are they'll put you off again. Lastly, this tidbit really struck home: From my 40 years of experience, I can say without question the first and foremost reason people give is because your organization changes lives or saves lives. Although it took me less than an hour to read, I must admit to going back to reread it because there were so many fine ideas contained therein . . . in fact, I'm going to recommend THE FUNDRAISING HABITS to my non-profit Board and, also, to my friends who belong to other Boards.

This is an excellent book to help a board member clearly understand his responsibility to fund raising. This is an easy read and can be done quickly. Excellent book!

Previously, when we were planning our major gifts campaign, I used Panas' book, ASKING, to motivate my board. It did the trick. Figuring lightning might strike twice, I recently gave them a copy of FUNDRAISING HABITS. They liked it just as much. And they're in the early stages of modeling some of the behaviors Panas outlines. Definitely if you have a board that needs a fundraising "pump up", this book may help.

Jerold Panas has done it again, with a deeply insightful, yet infinitely practical little volume. Just about every page contains an applicable nugget of wisdom in the exciting quest to develop a dynamic volunteer board. Get this book -- it's a quick read, but one that is likely to change your outlook and energize your organization.

Jerry Panas has written a book all of us in philanthropy will want to give to every member of our boards. How often during my twenty-five years of fundraising I have said: "Oh, what I wouldn't give for a stronger board!" What I was really saying was "I wish my board members would give our organization more financial support." And, time and again, I have made the excuse for our board members that they were not chosen because of their philanthropic generosity, but because of their area of expertise. Panas will never let us get away with this excuse again! He raises the bar both for philanthropy staff and for board members with "24 Fundraising Habits" that will change, for the better, our ability to develop effective board members and raise financial support for our organization's mission.