Beyond Fundraising: What Does It Mean to Build a Culture of Philanthropy?
The Haas, Jr. Fund's widely used guide to building a culture of philanthropy. It defines one as an organisation where everyone, board, staff and executive director, plays a part in raising resources; where fundraising is built on relationships; and where development is valued and woven into everything the organisation does. It offers practical recommendations for sharing fundraising responsibility, aligning it with the mission and keeping donors engaged.
Keywords
How to cite
Cynthia M. Gibson (2015). Beyond Fundraising: What Does It Mean to Build a Culture of Philanthropy?. Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. https://www.haasjr.org/sites/default/files/resources/Haas_CultureofPhilanthropy_F1_0.pdf
Related in the library
- 8.1C103
Fundraising Bright Spots
A research report from the Resetting Development project, which grew out of the UnderDeveloped study of nonprofit fundraising. It tells the stories of social change organisations that raise steady money from individual donors. It is for nonprofit leaders, boards and fundraising staff. Readers use the cases to rethink who owns fundraising in their organisation. A 2017 companion, Fundraising Bright Spots in Action, follows programme participants as they change their approach.
ClassicResearch and evidenceFree with sign-up - 8.1C104
Fundraising for Social Change
A 496-page how-to handbook for small and mid-sized nonprofits that want to build a broad base of individual donors, written with racial, economic and climate justice groups in mind. It covers fundraising infrastructure, hiring a development director, working with consultants and coaches, budgeting and planning, and handling financial trouble. Spotlight sections carry reflections from working fundraisers. Teachers get a free instructor's manual and online extras.
Start hereClassicKey manual or guideBook - 8.1C105
Change the Game Academy
A free online learning platform for community-based organisations that want to raise money and support from their own communities. It has 2 self-paced courses. Local Fundraising covers proposal writing, fundraising communication and donor relations. Mobilising Support covers winning commitment from stakeholders and decision makers, lobbying, social accountability and communication. Users create an account and follow the courses at any time. A Green version for groups managing natural resources launched in 2025.
CurrentKey online resourceFree with sign-up - 8.1C202
Fundraising for Success
A short guide from INTRAC's Common Ground Initiative for small and diaspora NGOs that have little time, staff or fundraising experience. It explains why fundraising needs a strategy, and how a small organisation can plan where its money will come from, who will raise it and how. It is part of a series of guides for small NGOs that includes one on governance.
ClassicKey manual or guideFree - 3.1C028
Boards of Directors and Governance Systems
A practical guide to strengthening NGO boards, first written in Spanish for organisations in Latin America, where board development tools adapted to local culture and language were scarce. The English version followed requests from outside the region. It walks through board roles, structures and governance systems in practical steps, with tools that boards and executive directors can apply to their own organisation.
Start hereClassicKey manual or guideFree - 3.1C029
Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards
A short book that sets out the 10 core responsibilities of a nonprofit board and places them in the context of current governance challenges. It separates the board's role from that of the chief executive and senior staff, and it has 2 appendices: one on the individual duties of board members and a sample self-assessment for board members. It is part of BoardSource's 6-book Governance Series and is used in board induction and role descriptions.
ClassicKey manual or guideBook - 3.1C030
Charity Governance Code
A voluntary governance code for UK charities of any size. It sets out 8 principles with 41 outcomes, and each principle comes with suggested behaviours, examples of policies and processes, and suggested evidence of good governance. Boards apply it on an apply or explain basis and are encouraged to publish a short statement in their annual report on how they use it. Smaller charities can use it to spot gaps as they grow.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree
Related project ideas
Get expert help with fundraising and financial management
Consulting and coaching projects built from 600+ real projects. Pick one, add your needs and hear from vetted consultants.
Donor communication and email fundraising
“You rarely communicate with donors or your emails aren’t getting engagement.”See project
Crowdfunding & campaign fundraising support
“You want to run a fundraising campaign but don't know how to structure it, set a realistic target, or keep momentum going once you launch.”See project
All 15 Fundraising & resource mobilisation project ideas All 12 Financial management & planning project ideas
Work with a consultant or coach
Nonprofit Builder members can browse vetted consultants and coaches who work on fundraising and financial management, and invite them to a project.
Suggestion box
Something to fix or add here?
Know a better resource on this subject, found a broken link, or spotted a mistake in this record? Tell us.
About C235 Beyond Fundraising: What Does It Mean to Build a Culture of Philanthropy?
A person reads every message. A title, a link or a few words is enough.