Relationship Fundraising: A Donor-Based Approach to the Business of Raising Money [Hardcover]

Burnett skillfully shows how to satisfy "the bottom line" through a positive relationship with donors. Practical, relevant tips are offered for reaching out to potential donors and making them feel part of the mission. It's a pleasure to see someone writing about "the psychology of fundraising." A well-crafted, beneficial read.

Many of us know that it's more important then ever to build relationships with our donors and prospects. Ken Burnett has been talking about it for over 10 years and the newest edition of his book on Relationship Fundraising is even more relevant today than when it was first written. Ken skillfully uses his extensive experience and insight to focus on what it really is all about through both what has already worked elsewhere and what we should strive to achieve. This book is easy and enjoyable to read and supports our ambitions for techniques including donor development and moves management but it is so much more than that. Relationship Fundraising takes lessons from yesterday and gives you the inspiration to truly get back to people and build positive lasting relationships into the future. Each of us can benefit from going beyond the buzz words and see what it is really all about or at least re-establish the importance of Relationship Fundraising by reading this invaluable book.
Pamela Brown Gignac is a 20 year fundraising and prospect research veteran in Canada and the UK and currently Vice President, JMG Solutions Inc, Ontario, Canada.

I thought this was a wonderful book. It includes 14 chapters and a glossary. Although I'm not sure the glossary added to the book. I don't view the book to be a complete treatise on nonprofit fundraising, but the author says he did not expect it to be. There is no coverage of special events, grant proposals, volunteers, or local fundraising activities. What this book talks about, and does it well, is nonprofits and their development arms need to approach donors with mutual consideration, thoughtfulness, and appreciation.

The world has gotten competitive. And nonprofit fundraising exists in an environment where technology and aggressive marketing tactics are the norm in how to do business. This book points out that technology and aggressive marketing have the potential to undermine the trust and confidence that are so important to effective fundraising. Fundraisers who understand that fundraising is about "building relationships" will not be obsessed with fundraising techniques and formulas. Instead, they will merely practice the art of fundraising that is all about building relationships.

This book was first written in the early 1990s and made a substantial contribution to the UK fundraising community's library of tomes on how to practice fundraising. It presents a basic approach to fundraising that is time tested and works. Now, in the 21st century, the author has updated his book by incorporating his answers to questions he has received about the first edition, and by adding some new thoughts he has on the subject. The material covered in this book is important; everyone involved in fundraising for nonprofits should understand what is covered in this book and take that understanding with them when they do their work as fundraisers.

I would have liked the book better if there had been one more chapter included. The author is critical of technology and aggressive marketing tactics. But he doesn't provide his view as to how technology and marketing tactics should be used specifically. I think the book would benefit with a chapter that would cover some of these specifics. In my humble opinion, technology and marketing tactics are still very important and critical to fundraising success. It's just how they can be used so donors are trusting of nonprofits that could have been better explained.

This book was an easy read. Each chapter is followed by a summary called "action points." And I liked this feature. I also liked very much the summary of the book provided at page xxii of the book's Preface. At the end of the book is a lengthy bibliography. Many good books are included in that list, and the reader will probably want to search some of them out for further reading. 5 stars!

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