Learn From My Experiences is a collection of essays penned by the author Norman B. Gildin who offers professional fundraisers, lay leaders, volunteers and the general public his perspective and the benefit of nearly four and a half decades raising more than $93 million for nonprofit organizations.
Each chapter tackles a different fundraising topic and addresses techniques and methodologies considered best practices in the field of Development. There also is a special section whose focus is possible outcomes of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic on fundraising.
The author hopes that readers will learn important lessons from his decades of experience that can be practically applied today. In his words, These essays are opportunities on how to best approach donors for major gifts, conduct special events and design and establish many programs to raise money for nonprofits. With more than 1.6 million nonprofits in the United States, there is something here for everyone.
This book is meant to be an easy read. You can pick it up and read through the book, or just glance at chapter headings in the Table of Contents and read chapters that interest you. Simple.
This book is intended to help not only Development professionals, but also lay leadership, volunteers, and even the public, which are involved in fundraising. Is it an exhaustive description of every kind of fundraising? No, but it does address the major categories of giving which are annual campaigns, capital campaigns, planned giving and endowment fund giving. Some more; some less. You be the judge.
Finally, the general public will find this book fascinating because everyone has a pet charity or project which they support or for whom they want to raise funds. It gives the novice and, even, the veteran fundraiser a taste of what it takes to raise money for a nonprofit organization. Through anecdotal stories, people will be informed, amused, surprised and taken by what it takes to support worthy organizations whose purpose is to help the less fortunate and vulnerable in society.
