Raising Capital for Dummies

First there was "Dating for Dummies," then "Indoor Grilling for Dummies " and now ... "Raising Capital for Dummies." The newest how-to book for novices from Wiley Publishing Inc., the publishers of the popular "Dummies" series, comes at what could be a wickedly good time. With venture capitalists retrenching and so-called angel investors burned by the dot-com meltdown, fund-raising has become a tough task for venture capitalists. "There's a lot of places to look for money that just doesn't occur to people," said Joseph Bartlett, co-author of the "Raising Capital for Dummies " book. Offering advice from finding government resources to tapping friends and family members for cash without causing feuds, the Dummies guide walks business execs from the "embryo to the IPO" stages of a company's cash needs, says Mr. Bartlett. If all else fails and a fund-raising effort comes up short, there's another guide that might be worth checking out: "Job Hunting for Dummies. (The Wall Street Journal, September 6, 2002)

Capital Campaigns, 2nd Edition

What a surprise! With over 30 years of non profit fundraising, leadership and capital campaign consulting experience, I expected to gain little from this "how to" book which I was given to review. Boy, was I wrong. Step by step, the authors outline and expand upon the key elements of a capital campaign; from determining whether or not your organization is ready for a campaign, to the best ways to celebrate and evaluate its conclusion. I appreciated the amount of detail the authors included and their emphasis on organization, planning, leadership involvement and communications. They explore the basic process and then give in depth coverage of each step. In addition to sharing their own personal knowledge and expertise, they gathered much of their material by interviewing friends and clients who also had extensive capital campaign experience. They made the book more interesting, and dramatized the points they wanted to make, by the inclusion of short vignettes and quotes by volunteer and professionals, from actual campaign experiences. Among the important subjects covered by the book are: how to select and use consultants, building the case for support, conducting a feasibility study, creating a campaign management plan, prospecting and prospect research, team building and leadership development, techniques of solicitation, campaign materials and public relations, events, thank yous, recognition, and much more. They even have a trouble shooting guide which focuses on what to do when things go wrong. I highly recommend this handbook for volunteer leadership and staff alike (whatever their level of previous experience) who are considering a capital campaign. It is a book that should also be part of the libraries of campaign consultants. I have to admit that I picked up several great new ideas and techniques from reading the book. Keep in mind that this is a "how to" book and will continue to be of value as a reference tool. The table of contents and index are complete and excellent in their detail. I felt the authors could have put more emphasis on and expand the section on feasibility studies, or as I like to call them, pre-campaign assessments. Too many organizations try to avoid this important process thinking that they already know they need to know. They feel the pre-campaign study will take unnecessary time and resources. A good study not only sets the stage for a successful capital campaign and determines a realistic goal, but also provides invaluable information about the way the organization is perceived in the community, potential for major support, and extent to which leadership and staff are ready or capable to do what is necessary for success. Organizational culture, leadership styles, personality management and what is often referred to as organizational politics are other areas which I felt deserved expanded coverage by the authors. Human factors, organizational history, and communication styles are all addressed in the book but are not given as extensive or in depth presentation as is warranted. In summary, this book not only meets, but exceeds its very appropriate title: Capital Campaigns-Strategies that Work.

The Entrepreneur's Guide To Preparing A Winning Business Plan and Raising Venture Capital

If you are preparing a business plan to sell the merits of your business to an outside investor, this is the book you should use for guidance. BUY THIS BOOK TODAY! Most business planning guides do not address the investor, in fact, they often ignore the investor completely. In addition to preparing a sound plan, this book tells you how to value your business, communicate this value to your investor, and demonstrate to the investor how he/she will get their money out.

Building Reputational Capital

In the aftermath of scandals such as those at Enron and WorldCom, there is a growing suspicion of the corporate world. For this reason it is more important than ever for firms to maintain a good reputation. In Building Reputational Capital, Kevin T. Jackson offers a practical guide to taking the high road--the only path that leads to lasting success. Based on extensive research and real-world experience, Building Reputational Capital reveals basic principles of integrity and fairness with which firms can build an enduring reputation. More than image, a firm's reputation is a form of capital often neglected in the boardroom and overlooked in conventional analyses of financial statements. Speaking directly to the work experience of real people in practical business settings, Jackson couples each principle with straightforward actions that drive management systems, and he provides tested strategies--from downsizing techniques to e-commerce tips--that cultivate the hidden power of a good reputation. He outlines the advantages of a superior reputation (simply put, people want to work for, invest in, and do business with a company or person with integrity), describes the vital role the firm's leader must play, offers ways to build and protect your reputation on the Internet (from defusing Internet rumors to creating an online community), and shows how to rescue your reputation once disaster hits. Perhaps most important, he shows how to strike the right balance of virtues like authenticity, honesty, responsibility, and stewardship of the environment, employees, and the economy. Highlighted with real-life success stories--from giants like Hewlett-Packard to small firms like Thanksgiving Coffee Company (which invests part of its revenues in the Central American villages in which its beans are grown), Building Reputational Capital offers a simple but effective guide for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, legal professionals, and corporate consultants.

Nonprofit Essentials-The Capital Campaign

"I have not come across a better book on the overall strategy and techniques necessary for the planning and implementation of a capital campaign. Ms. Walker covers all of the bases in a clear and concise manner that will benefit many organizations, especially those embarking on their first campaign. This book is an excellent tool for the senior development officer or executive director who may have conducted several campaigns. The examples of new trends in philanthropy and management tools for endowment are very helpful." --Gordon H. "Nick" Mueller, Ph.D. President & CEO The National D-Day Museum, America’s National World War II Museum "Walker’s book offers the rare and wonderful combination of both sophistication and simplicity. It is sophisticated in the depth of experience and knowledge it reflects yet simple to read and easy to use. Every beginner should read it for the strategic overview and ‘dog ear’ it for future referral on specific dilemmas. Every old work horse in the business should peruse it, marking those places Walker tells us what is changing and how to react to it."-- Martha W. Gilliland, Ph.D. Chancellor University of Missouri-Kansas City "This book by Julie Walker provides a comprehensive and practical guide on fundraising essentials that should serve as the Bible for nonprofits everywhere. I keep it on my desk at all times."--Adrienne Brooks Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Xavier University of Louisiana