4 intriguing books for a fundraiser’s reading list

Are you a fundraiser looking for some good books to add to your reading list? Here are four books I enjoyed that I think will especially resonate with anyone involved in the nonprofit sector.

We fed an island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time by José Andrés

This is the story of how chef José Andrés responded to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and teamed up with community kitchens across Puerto Rico to provide 100,000 hot meals a day. It’s a compelling account of the profound impact of grassroots efforts and offers insights on how to effectively respond to disasters—both natural and man-made.

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Most of us have taken circuitous routes to our roles in nonprofit fundraising, and as a result we bring an array of skills, interests, and perspectives with us. Range makes the case that generalists with varied interests make connections in their work that specialists just can’t see—an important ability for anyone working in support of a nonprofit’s mission.

Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done by Laura Vanderkam

Don’t let the petite size of this book fool you—there is a lot of valuable information packed inside! Laura offers easy-to-implement strategies to make our time meaningful, productive, and memorable.

From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth by Darren Walker

Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, offers a modern take on Andrew Carnegie’s The Gospel of Wealth. His book explores and offers answers to this central question: “If there’s a continuum between generosity and justice, how do we push our work closer to the latter?” You can download the audiobook or ebook for free here.

Happy reading!