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Filled with tips from writers at nonprofit agencies, this guide provides everything volunteers, staff writers, freelancers, and others need to fashion persuasive proposals and presentations for individual, foundation, and corporate donors.
List of contents
ContentsIntroduction
PART 1: THE WACKY WORLD OF FUND RAISING1. What Is Fund Raising, Anyway? The ABCs of the Nonprofit World
2. Today's Development Office: Who Does What and Why
3. The Role of the Writer: Using Words for a Cause
Part 2: Writing the Perfect Proposal4. The Marriage Proposal: Asking from Strength
5. Getting Your Material Together: How to Research and Interview
6. Parts of a Proposal: Making Each Section Sing
7. After the Proposal: Thank-You Letters and Reports
Part 3: The Writer's Craft8. Seat of Pants to Seat of Chair: How to Get Started
9. Second Drafts and Other Saving Graces: Revising, Editing, and Editing Again
10. Other Key Craft Stuff: How to Get It Crisp, Styled, and Polished
11. The Persuasive Argument: From Angry Letters to Ads and Editorials
Part 4: Case Statements and Other Big-Money Materials12. Case Statements: Striking a Noble Note
13. Newsletters: How to Write, Edit, Design, and Print
14. Writing for the Electronic Age: E-mail and the World Wide Web
Part 5: So Now You're All Set, Right?15. The Fund-Raising Writer's Survival Kit: What to Do When Stuff Happens
The Gotta-Get-It-Out-Right-Now, How-Late-Is-FedEx-Open? Down-And-Dirty Proposal KitA Philanthropist Is on Line 1: This Situation Calls for a Proposal
Figuring Out What to Include: From Notes to Outline
Writing It Right: From Introduction to Reprise
How Late Did You Say They're Open? Proof, Package, and Out the Door
AppendixResources
A Glossary of Design and Printing Terms
IndexAbout the authors
About the author
Joseph Barbato is president of Barbato Associates, which provides writing and design services to the fund-raising programs of nonprofits. He has worked with dozens of nonprofits, including New York University, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and The United Nations Foundation.
Summary
Filled with tips and survival skills from writers and fund-raising officers at nonprofits of all sizes, Writing for a Good Cause is the first book to explain how to use words well to win your cause the money it needs. Whether you work for a storefront social action agency or a leading university, the authors' knowledgeable, practical advice will help you:
Write the perfect proposal—from the initial research and interviews to the final product
Draft, revise, and polish a "beguiling, exciting, can't-put-it-down and surely can't-turn-it-down" request for funds
Create case statements and other big money materials—also write, design, and print newsletters, and use the World Wide Web effectively
Survive last-minute proposals and other crises—with the Down-and-Dirty Proposal Kit!
Writing for a Good Cause provides everything fund raisers, volunteers, staff writers, freelancers, and program directors need to know to win funds from individual, foundation, and corporate donors.
Additional text
Sheila Dennis Director of Development, Union of Concerned Scientists Told from the trenches in a very entertaining style, Writing for a Good Cause is a terrific resource for fundraising veterans and newcomers. I laughed out loud reading it! For those of us who spend every day working to make the world a better place, this guide will help make your proposals stand out.
