My 50 recommended books to read

Reading has been one of the best ways I’ve developed as a Catholic fundraiser. Over the years, I’ve read multiple genres to piece together a fundraising method that is grounded in the Catholic faith and efficient at delivering results.

I have compiled a list of the top 50 books which includes a few recommendations from other Catholic fundraisers.

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The books cover a range of topics, including creative design, non-profit, writing, public speaking, motivation, fundraising, marketing, business, psychology, theology, and biographies.

1. Essential Principles for Fundraising Success: An Answer Manual for the Everyday Challenges of Raising Money
2. The Next Generation Leader: Five Essentials for Those Who Will Shape the Future
3. Writing That Works, 3e: How to Communicate Effectively in Business
4. The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord
5. Fundraising for Nonprofits: How to Build a Community Partnership
6. Start with No: The Negotiating Tools That the Pros Don’t Want You to Know
7. The Influential Fundraiser: Using the Psychology of Persuasion to Achieve Outstanding Results
8. Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends
9. Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt
10. The Desktop Publisher’s Idea Book
11. Growing Givers Hearts: Treating Fundraising as Ministry
12. Fundraising for Churches
13. Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits
14. Fundraising Management: Analysis, Planning, and Practice
15. Great Christian Thinkers: From the Early Church through the Middle Ages
16. Confessions of Augustine
17. Guerrilla Marketing: Cutting-edge strategies for the 21st century
18. Bernard of Clairvaux / by Henri Daniel-Rops
19. Rejection Proof: How to Beat Fear and Become Invincible
20. Life in Half a Second: How to Achieve Success Before It’s Too Late
21. The $100 Startup: Fire Your Boss, Do What You Love and Work Better To Live More
22. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
23. Relationology: 101 Secrets to Grow Your Business Through the Power of Relationships
24. Imagining Abundance: Fundraising, Philanthropy, and a Spiritual Call to Service
25. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
26. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
27. Relationship Fundraising: A Donor-based Approach to the Business of Raising Money
28. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints
29. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
30. Desktop Publishing and Design For Dummies
31. Lifelong Activist: How to Change the World Without Losing Your Way
32. The Life of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure
33. A Spirituality of Fundraising
34. Stewardship – A Disciple’s Response – A pastoral letter from the US Catholic Bishops
35. Discerning the Will of God: An Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making
36. Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus
37. Grant Writing For Dummies
38. Storytelling for Grantseekers: A Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising
39. How to Turn Your Words Into Money: The Master Fundraiser’s Guide to Persuasive Writing
40. The Fundraiser’s Guide to Irresistible Communications
41. Making Money with Donor Newsletters
42. The Trivium: The Liberal Arts of Logic, Grammar, and Rhetoric
43. The Ask: How to Ask for Support for Your Nonprofit Cause, Creative Project, or Business Venture
44. People Raising: A Practical Guide to Raising Funds
45. How to Win Friends & Influence People
46. Fundraising For Dummies
47. The Nonprofit Handbook: Fund Raising
48. Fundraising Basics: A Complete Guide
49. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
50. Busy: How to thrive in a world of too much

Discussion Question: Which books do you recommend reading? Let me know in the comments section below.