(San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003)

Reviewed by: James V. Toscano, Executive Vice President, Park Nicollet Institute

Editors Note: Chapter 20, The Internet as a Fund Raising Vehicle was authored by Ted Hart, ACFRE, ePMT, President and CEO of the ePhilanthropy Foundation.

This edition is the worthy successor to the highly acclaimed Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising, published in 1991 and written by Hank Rosso and a Who's Who in Fundraising group of stars Hank had recruited to teach in The Fundraising School.

Rosso, by dint of personality, experience and wisdom, overcoming all barriers, had become one of the top people in the development field by 1991, and the first edition summarized state of the art thinking about development at that time. Since then, it has joined Seymour's Designs for Fund-Raising, as one of the classics of the profession.

In fitting tribute to Rosso, Temple, director of the Center for Philanthropy at Indiana University, has included Rosso's name in the title of the second edition. Moreover, he has served both Rosso and the profession well by assembling many of the current instructors at The Fund Raising School, now at Indiana University, to produce an outstanding overview of development at the beginning of the Twenty-First Century.

In the new edition, Rosso's essays on "A Philosophy of Fund Raising" and "The Annual Fund" are reprised, and some of the authors from the first edition are back, including Kay Sprinkel Grace, Kim Klein, Sheree Parris Nudd and Gene Tempel... They are joined by an impressive array of new essayists who shed light on the diverse areas of development for both the beginner and seasoned professional. There is something for everyone in this new edition.

The book has been rewritten almost completely, updated and focused on contemporary realities. Eleven new chapters have been added, including such topics as "Women as Donors," "The Internet as a Fund Raising Vehicle," and "Embracing Diversity in Fund Raising."

There are seven major sections. The first section, an overview, contains an exemplary essay by Temple on "Contemporary Dynamics of Philanthropy," reviewing the roles, challenges to, and opportunities for philanthropy at the present time. Rosso's philosophy article is next, with a brief, laudatory introduction by Temple.

The second section is on institutional readiness and fundamentals of successful fund raising. Articles from those on planning to case statements to constituency development comprise the second.

The third looks at various programs organizations can use, the building blocks for successful fund raising. Here we find Rosso's insightful article on the annual fund, along with pieces on major gifts, endowment, capital campaigns and planned giving.

Part four looks at the usual suspects, the sources of resources for nonprofits. Chapters on individuals, corporations, foundations, women, and diversity line up, with an added bonus of an interesting and useful chapter on "Trends in Major Donor Behavior and Innovative Approaches to Philanthropy" by Lilya Wagner that distinguishes between traditional and the new, more enterprising ways of investing in nonprofits.

Part five reviews specific methodologies, with essays from such well known consultants as Mal Warwick on direct mail and Kim Klein on grassroots fundraising. Special events and the Internet are the topics that round out this section.

We next look at the management of fund raising, not only from the professional's responsibility, but also at the role of leadership, trustees, and teams. Technology, information management, fiscal management and use of consultants complete this overview.

Finally, a critically important essay by Temple, "Ethical Framework for Fund Raising" begins the final section aimed at the profession and the professional development person. Essays on stewardship, international perspectives, professionalism and resources for strengthening fund raising skills round out the section and the volume.

As Tempel points out, this current edition does not have to be read from beginning to end, although it does make an interesting evening's reading. Its major purpose, and a welcome addition, is to serve as a reference to us all on the various aspects of what we do and to provide us all with a strong professional ally upon which we can depend.

Order this book online: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0787962562/ephilanthropy/104-3663070-8959934

or go to: http://ephilanthropy.org/bookstore

Review provided by CharityChannel