February 26, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
NEW BOOKS
Taking the Fear Out of Asking for Major Gifts, Revised Edition, by James A. Donovan, seeks to allay the concerns of volunteer fund raisers. Many volunteers think asking their wealthy peers for money will be embarrassing and stressful, but with sufficient preparation and an appropriate approach, it can be an enjoyable experience for both the fund raiser and the benefactor, writes Mr. Donovan, a nonprofit consultant and lecturer. His book begins with a section on how volunteers can ready themselves — and ease any jitters — by learning more about philanthropy in general, their organization, and the prospective donor. The second part of the guide offers step-by-step instructions on asking for gifts, negotiating any objections, and securing donations. Mr. Donovan includes several sample scenarios, checklists, and tables to illustrate his suggestions.
Publisher: Donovan Management, P.O. Box 471438, Lake Monroe, Fla. 32747; (407) 321-0024; fax (407) 321-0609; http://www.donovanmanagement.com; 123 pages; $25.95; ISBN 0-9639875-1-8.
