Good news.  In fact, I bring you DOUBLE GOOD NEWS.

ONE.  Just as he did 30 years ago with his revolutionary Relationship Fundraising: A Donor-Based Approach to the Business of Raising Money, Ken Burnett has once again delivered a wealth of advice.  This time in the form of advice-by-classic examples.

Ken’s new book The essence of Campaigning Fundraising in 52 exhibits and 199 web links is sure to give every fundraiser a big, big nudge.

TWO.   The second piece of good news is that you and every Agitator reader can reserve your first-edition copy and have it personally signed by Ken.

That’s not all.  In addition, you’ll get a free SOFII USB KEY pre-loaded with all 199 weblinks referenced in the printed book.The price of this signed, first-edition is $55 or  £39.50 and includes shipping.  Of this $20 or £15 will be donated to the SOFII Foundation.  BUT…you gotta be quick because this offer is available only until June 14, 2021.

To pre-order and be among the first to secure your signed first-edition copy all you have to do email joe@whitelionpress.com.  Let him know you want in on this exclusive offer and he’ll take it from there. Alternatively, you can use this White Lion Press order form.

Why We Need This Book

In troubling times like these ordinary people and the organizations they create have historically proven amazingly resilient: capable of rescue, restoration and renewal.

In my 55 years of organizing and campaigning for change I’ve witnessed first-hand the power of organized, ordinary folks.  Name an issue where there’s a problem and you’re likely to find a group of caring people banded together in support of a solution.  Women’s suffrage. Hunger. Homelessness. Human Rights. Civil Rights. Animal Rights. Conservation.  Peace. Climate Change.   Whatever the issue there are scores of non-profit household names tackling the problem.

Nearly every one of these organizations requires a multitude of committed activists and donors to fuel the change it seeks. And that means fundraising and fundraisers.

Given the high stakes now at play for the future we will not only need more fundraisers, but better fundraisers.  A lot more.  A lot better.

Fortunately, Ken Burnett, with this new book, is back in his role as master guide.  Just as he did then he again inspires, teaches –and delivers the goods. Even if our acquisition, retention and development results were miles better than they actually are, there still would be a glaring need for a re-focusing—exactly the aim of this book.

Whether novice or veteran these pages contain a treasure trove of value for every fundraiser:

• For the young would-be fundraiser – and there are plenty of them – how do they cut through the clutter of blogs, books and conferences to find what really matters, for them? And should they even be calling themselves fundraisers, in the first place?

[You’ll  want to read this powerful review of Ken’s book written by a “new” fundraiser Tanya Jackson for SOFII.]

• Fundraising leaders need a motivational and informed kick in the pants too. If you had just a few hours to brief a new recruit to your fundraising or campaigning departments, what are the top 20, or even top 100, key things you’d want them to really know and master?

What do you mean, campaigning fundraising?

Importantly, the book’s title deserves special note. “Campaigning Fundraising” doesn’t flow easily off the tongue, but as Ken explains:

 “Fundraising above all is about the change charities and their supporters want to see in this world. So, in referring to this activity merely as fundraising we made a basic big mistake, a mistake we’ve paid dearly for and are still paying for, so should rectify once and for all… ‘People don’t give for things to remain as they are – they give to see change, always. So, campaigning fundraising it has to be.”

What’s In the Book?

Through 52 exhibits and 155 weblinks it shows where we’ve got things wrong and how we can massively improve and thus multiply our voluntary sector’s impact on the problems we seek to solve and the benefits we bring to our society.

Like an archaeologist uncovering and highlighting great riches from the past, Ken taps into the motherlode of fundraising riches available 24/7 online — The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration (SOFII.org). Ken Burnett helped found SOFII in 2007, and it’s been growing ever since.

SOFII is a working wonder. A carefully curated repository of hundreds of examples of the best campaigns and thousands of articles offering professional fundraisers the best available guidance and support.

Fortunately for the reader, as noted earlier, the examples cited in this book conveniently contain links and QR codes back to the original entries on SOFII. In addition there are “As the Agitator sees it” Link. See. Admire. Think. 

Our society would be much less healthy and self-sustaining without campaigning fundraisers. Their work cannot be entirely delegated to the state nor reassigned to commercial suppliers. A thriving fundraising and campaigning community enables a vibrant, thriving third sector– the voluntary or not-for-profit sector– which in turn ensures a stable, balanced and caring society.

Given what the world is up against these days campaigning fundraisers can and must go further and aim higher. This book sets out a road map and a timeline for improving and accelerating a vital function that’s needed more now than ever.

Roger

P.S.  REPEAT:  You and every Agitator reader can reserve your first edition copy personally signed by Ken.   That’s not all.  In addition, you’ll get a free SOFII USB KEY pre-loaded with all 199 weblinks referenced in the printed book.

The price of this signed, first-edition is $55 or  £39.50 and includes shipping.  Of this $20 or £15 will be donated to the SOFII Foundation.  BUT…you gotta be quick because this offer is available only until June 14, 2021.

To pre-order and be among the first to secure your signed first-edition copy all you have to do email joe@whitelionpress.com.  Let him know you want in on this exclusive offer and he’ll take it from there. Or if you want to pass on Joe’s personal attention you can use this order form.