In all the years that I have been posting blogs; I have never featured a book. However, when something phenomenal is published, how can I NOT share it? Alan Clayton’s Great Fundraising Organizations, one of the very few (possibly the first – I have not been able to establish whether it holds this record – but it should!) books on fundraising to have sold out on pre-order.
Two legends in the world of non-profit resourcing say it better than I could:
Professor Adrian Sargeant, from the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy: ‘A very simple idea morphed into a 10-year program of research, the most exciting scientific project I have ever been involved with, and the generation of literally billions of dollars for nonprofits around the globe.’
And the iconic Ken Burnett, author of Relationship Fundraising (among other publications): ‘What I love about this great book is that it isn’t only about theory, it’s all about practice. Alan Clayton knows how to achieve great fundraising results because he’s done it. Great Fundraising Organizations defines the essential ingredients, shows how to assemble them, then guides us through the process that makes the dream a reality. The result is Utopian fundraising success.’
Rather than another ‘how to’ guide, Clayton has captured, in an accessible style, the findings of a decade devoted to looking at what sets those non-profits that have achieved outstanding results in their fundraising, aside from the rest (sadly, many of the rest have struggled or even closed, despite providing excellent services). Featuring case studies from around the world, Great Fundraising Organizations is enlightening, fascinating and inspiring.
He also challenges one to create a donor-conscious organisation. I loved his suggestion of the use of memetics (the study of memes, not just the internet kind, but any idea, behaviour, style, or cultural practice that spreads from person to person). This is a less costly and more user-friendly option than the use of quality management systems.
The book culminates in offering eight steps to success. Covering obvious issues such as having the optimal team, ‘training your leadership’, and my favourites: creating new ambition and embedding this into the culture of an organisation.
If you only read one book this year, Great Fundraising Organizations should be it! (And we have it in our online bookshop.)
We are honoured to be having Alan Clayton presenting on our annual online Papillon Fundraising Conference on 20 and 21 May. https://www.papillonpress.biz/conferences/2025-annual-online-fundraising-conference/
