Money for the Cause:
A Complete Guide to Event Fundraising

By Rudy Rosen
Illustrations by Katie Dobson Cundiff
Texas A&M University Press

There has never been a greater need for raising money necessary to support the causes that will help build a sustainable future. The author explains methods and secrets to holding fundraising events that will raise net revenue in good times and bad.

Money for the Cause covers methods adaptable to situations faced by all who hold fundraisers. The author explains basic and advanced techniques that can be duplicated by everyone from novice volunteers to experienced event planners.

With over 30 years of leadership experience in organizations holding several hundred to almost 5,000 small to large fundraising events each year the author knows the landscape well. But his fundraising experience goes well beyond events alone, drawing readers’ attention to the full breadth of fundraising opportunities that can be associated with events, such as recruiting members and volunteers, product sales, funding partnerships, and donor stewardship.

Each chapter begins with a pertinent, real-life anecdote and focuses on a major area of event fundraising. Here are just a few of the many topics covered:

Event team building and team member roles.
Auctions and raffles.
Food and drink service.
Business plans and budgets.
Arcade games and prizes.
Social media and websites.
Site selection.
Donation solicitation.
Entertainment.
Sponsorships.
Effective use of volunteers.

Click here for the table of contents of Money for the Cause.

The author applies each topic to the widest possible range of events and size organizations, providing practical detail and giving multiple examples to cover the differences in types of organizations and their fundraising activities.

This is a comprehensive book, but an interesting read due to the author’s use of real-life stories, easy examples to follow, sample materials that anyone can use, and many other aids to fundraising success.  While easy to use for beginners, it also allows more advanced event planners or students of fundraising to delve deeply into event fundraising techniques, fundraising ethics, legal issues, and much more.  There is also a special “advanced” section at the end of the book covering tricks, little known options, and ultra-high revenue generating techniques that are often the secret behind the phenomenal success of some events.

The book is beautifully illustrated with fundraising artwork by renowned artist, Katie Dobson Cundiff, making the book even more enjoyable to read.

Whatever the funding objective may be, Money for the Cause: A Complete Guide to Event Fundraising will quickly become indispensable to anyone involved in mission-driven organizations, whether as a volunteer, professional, student, teacher, or total beginner wanting to raise money for a cause.