21 Books to Help You Climb the Career Ladder

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; Broadway Books; Pocket Books

Fundraisers recommend reading for their peers who want to advance in the field.

Tools and Techniques

The Fundraiser’s Guide to Irresistible Communications, by Jeff Brooks

The Making of a Fundraiser

Fundraisers share their strategies for career advancement and happiness in a field where the rules aren’t always clear.

Fundraising Basics: A Complete Guide, by Barbara L. Ciconte and Jeanne Jacob

The Nonprofit Handbook: Fundraising, by James M. Greenfield

The Generosity Network: New Transformational Tools for Successful Fund-Raising, by Jennifer McCrea and Jeffrey C. Walker

Working with Donors

Relationship Fundraising: A Donor-Based Approach to the Business of Raising Money, by Ken Burnett

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

Mega Gifts: Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them, by Jerold Panas

It’s Not Just About the Money: How to Build Authentic Major Donor Relationships, by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels.

Time Management

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen

7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style, by Carson Tate

The Productivityist Playbook, by Mike Vardy

Managing People

QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life, by John G. Miller

Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott

Leading Up: Transformational Leadership for Fundraisers, by Lilya Wagner

Leadership

Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement, by John M. Bryson

Good to Great and the Social Sectors: Why Business Thinking Is Not the Answer, by Jim Collins

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, by Michael D. Watkins