Beyond Book Sales: The Complete Guide to Raising Real Money for Your Library - Softcover

Susan Dowd

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1555709125 ISBN 13: 9781555709129

Publisher: ALA Neal-Schuman, 2013

Synopsis

Like library users, library donors hail from all walks of life. Regardless of the scope or complexity of library fundraising, successful efforts are always about forging and strengthening relationships with the range of stakeholders throughout the community. Dowd and her team from Library Strategies, a consulting group of the Friends of St. Paul Public Library, share proven strategies that have brought in more than $1 million annually. Believing that private fundraising is a natural for libraries large and small, they start with 12 facts about library fundraising and focus on activities with the highest return. Tips and features include:

• The gift pyramid model for developing the culture of giving that leads to big gifts
• Overcoming fears of sponsorship and embracing cause-related marketing
• Pitching the appropriate charitable gift
• Confronting common fears of requesting major gifts
• The pros and cons of membership programs

About this title

About the Author

Susan Dowd is a staff member of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, where she serves as Capital Campaign Coordinator and Special Projects Coordinator. She is also a Library Strategies consultant. She holds a Master of Librarianship from Emory University and is certified in Fundraising and Fund Development from the University of Saint Thomas. She has authored a number of advocacy and fundraising toolkits for ALA s Advocacy University and co-authored a how-to book on mergers for Minnesota nonprofits. She collaborated on Beyond Book Sales with co-authors, fellow Friends staff members and Library Strategies consultants Liz Boyd, Sue Hall, Ann McKinnon, Wendy Moylan, and Peter Pearson.

Reviews

As stated in the preface of this book, “The old model of banking on public revenues and occasional special funds—and hoping for the best—has gone the way of the card catalog.” Fund-raising is not something one generally learns in library school, but in today’s economic reality, librarians are finding themselves in need of creative ways to generate more money for their libraries. This guide offers a variety of ways to raise funds, whether for projects or for long-term coffers. The introductory chapters in part 1 (“Focus on Fund-Raising—Fund-amentals for Libraries”) discuss the need and justifications for fund-raising, while the chapters in part 2 (“Roll Up Your Sleeves—Types of Fund-Raising Activities”) get to the nitty-gritty, giving practical advice and examples. Appeals, membership programs, legacy gifts, special events, online donations, grants, and capital campaigns are all covered. Samples and examples abound in the “Fund-Raising Toolkit” and “Fund-Raising Gallery” appendixes, from flyers and bookmarks to worksheets and templates. Recommended for most public libraries. --Rebecca Vnuk

Edition details

• Publisher: ALA Neal-Schuman
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1555709125
• ISBN 13: 9781555709129
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304
• Editor: Susan Dowd