Northwest Suburban Philanthropy Center
The Northwest Suburban Philanthropy Center is a partnership between the Schaumburg Township District Library and the Donors Forum. The Philanthropy Center brings print and online fundraising and nonprofit management resources to organizations throughout the region.
- Identify private donors
- Research the philanthropic sector
- Improve nonprofit management
- Investigate corporate giving
- Review proposal writing guides
Free Tools and Resources
The Donors Forum’s Grantseekers Toolbox offers a wealth of information on topics including: Researching Potential Funding Sources and Donors, Making Contact with Donors, and Event Planning 101. For information on membership, workshops and upcoming events, visit www.donorsforum.org.
Foundation Center’s website has links to many educational Tools and Resources under the Get Started tab. These include free Basic Classroom Training Courses and Online Guides and Tutorials, such as The Foundation Directory Online Guided Tour. Click on the View Events tab to access workshop and events calendars, including one for free Live Webinars.
Foundation Center’s Ask the Online Librarian webpage lets you chat live with an FC librarian, or e-mail a question. Chat service hours are: Mon. – Wed. 9:30am – 8:00pm and Thurs. & Fri. 9:30am – 4:30pm ET. Send an e-mail 24/7, using the online form. There are also links for exploring topics on your own. This great service is available free of charge!
Monthly Feature
Good Salespeople Make Good Fund Raisers
The New York Times bestseller To Sell is Human: the Surprising Truth about Moving Others, by Daniel Pink, is featured in the April 25 issue of the Chronicle of Philanthropy as a tool for fundraisers seeking to make better connections with donors. Pink’s book is full of humorous stories and surprises, such as his assertion that extroverts aren’t necessarily the best salespeople. He recommends asking questions, listening, taking the other’s perspective, and focusing on problem finding, not problem solving. Available at STDL at call number: New Nonfiction/658.85/PINK
Here are more titles that can improve your fundraising skills:
The Influential Fundraiser: Using the Psychology of Persuasion to Achieve Outstanding Results / Bernard Ross 658.15224/ROSS, B
The End of Fundraising: Raise More Money by Selling Your Impact / Jason Saul 658.15224/SAUL
Good in a Room: How to Sell Yourself (and Your Ideas) and Win Over Any Audience / Stephanie Palmer 650.1/PALMER (Also available as an audiobook)
