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The Fine Art of Fundraising

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The Fine Art of Fundraising: Secrets for Successful Volunteers

               - by Carolyn Farb

CAROLYN FARB is a fundraising visionary who has raised more than 30 million dollars in her efforts. She has been featured widely in magazines and on television and is the author of How to Raise Millions: Helping Others and Having a Ball! She lives in Houston, Texas.

Everything you need to know to raise money for your cause, from the “fundanista” who has raised more than $30 million.



It’s the volunteer’s eternal question: How do you raise the money your organization needs in order to continue its important work? The answer is fundraising. Whether you’re planning a bake sale, an elaborate charity ball, or anything in between, fundraiser extraordinaire Carolyn Farb can help you make your event a huge success.

Carolyn has raised more than $30 million during her thirty years as a dedicated volunteer helping nonprofits, arts organizations, and political groups reach their philanthropic goals. In The Fine Art of Fundraising, she distills the wisdom she’s gained into personal guidance for every aspect of event planning. With Carolyn’s help, you’ll learn:

  • What types of events work best as fundraisers
  • How to build community interest in your event
  • What it takes to become a successful chairperson
  • How to get grants, endowments, and trusts
  • Why making personal contact matters
  • How to plan every detail of your event, from invitations to clean-up
  • And much, much more.


Volunteer organizations are always in need of committed individuals and resourceful solutions. With so many nonprofit groups competing for the same few dollars, yours will benefit from the counsel of one of the top names in fundraising, Carolyn Farb.

 

Book Reviews from Amazon.com

:

An excellent resource for those leading fundraisers!, January 17, 2005

Reviewer:

Dr. Farb's book is now at the top of my reference list as I volunteer in a leadership role for a national charity. My only complaint is that I couldn't have the book a year ago! It's already helping me as we prepare for our largest fundraiser.

 

A highly practical guide for raising charity funds, January 12, 2005

Reviewer:

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)

The Fine Art of Fundraising: Secrets For Successful Volunteers by fundraising visionary Carolyn Farb is a highly practical guide for raising charity funds. From a simple bake sale to a gala charity ball and a wide range of activities in between, The Fine Art of Fundraising presents a practical how-to recipe for success. The author has raised more than $30 million for nonprofits, political groups, arts organizations and more; her experience carries the distilled wisdom of a professional as she explains how to build community interest, what types of events are the best fundraisers, how to earn grants, endowments, and trusts, why making personal contact makes all the difference, how to plan events step-by-step from invitations to clean-up, and much more. An absolute "must-have" for anyone taking up the responsibility of seeing a worthy cause meet its philanthropic goal.

Fundraising for Smarties, January 10, 2005

Reviewer:

L. Morgan "Book Guy" (Texas)
 

The successful "Dummy" guidebooks ("Cooking for Dummies", "Rocket Science for Dummies", etc.) could learn a thing or two from Ms. Farb. Her largesse, smarts and savvy are known around the world and she enlightens us all with a look at how superstar fundraising is really done. With her keen writing style, she takes us behind the curtain and we are a fly on a champagne glass in learning all the tricks of the trade of making money for organizations who need it most. She's a prolific volunteer who was donated millions of hours to causes that have so desperately needed her help. With those millions of hours have come millions of dollars of donations, too. Read this and become a Fundraising Superstar now!

 

A Must Have Book!, January 9, 2005

Reviewer:

T. T. Gach (La Jolla) -
 

Carolyn Farb does an oustanding job explaining the heart and soul of an important aspect of fund raising. The book is an incredible investment.

Practical, sound advice, December 13, 2004

Reviewer:

www.eFundraise.org (Orefield, PA)

There's no denying that these tips worked for Farb; what's more, they are straightforward and practical. Overall, a good resource guide for volunteers and volunteer managers in charge of executing fundraising projects on the local level.

 

Other Book Reviews:

"Carolyn Farb's new book, The Fine Art of Fundraising; Secrets for Successful Volunteers captures the essence of fundraising and volunteerism.  Carolyn's wealth of experience, helping so many worthy causes, creates an upbeat and inspirational book that all fundraisers should read as a tool for successful fundraising.  It is superbly written and exemplifies Carolyn's genuine spirit of caring and sharing."  John M. Tsacrios, Jr., Executive Director, UNICEF, Texas

To a Reader

Dear Bridget,

I'm so happy that my book has been a friend and a benefit to you.
First, don't be hard on yourself as whatever you are doing for The
Periwinkle Foundation is greatly appreciated. You have to build -
encourage your volunteers to help raise needed funds and to reach out to
in kind donors they may have in their personal network (restaurants &
wine bars they frequent, hotels that their businesses may utilize and so
on).

Have you ever considered enlisting the support of the music schools at
Rice or the University of Houston to secure entertainment? Mailing
lists are almost obsolete as soon as they are created. Perhaps that was
the reason for the low attendance last year. Try to involve board
members of mutual organizations that the fundraiser will be
beneficiaries or participants. Ask them to send names to be added to the
mailing list. It's not the size of the mailing list, but the quality.

Try to get the word out independently of a PR person to local and
neighborhood periodicals. Many periodicals are willing to write a story
relating to the children and the art. Post information on mutual
websites. You can always have signage that says Contributions are
appreciated and will provide blank and blank services. You can break
that down into specifics if you choose. Hopefully, this will be helpful
to you and the Watercolor Art Society.

Best Regards,

Carolyn Farb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carolyn,

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to my email. You have,
again, given me valuable pointers for this fundraiser.....I had not even
thought of contacting one of the university music departments.

I'm happily moving ahead!

Sincerest regards,
Bridgett Vallery
Gallery Director
Watercolor Art Society-Houston

P.S. I just found out today that AIG's printer will print the invitations
FREE of charge!

 

 

 
   

© 2006 Carolyn Farb

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