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Raising Thousands (if Not Tens of Thousands) of Dollars with Email

Madeline Stanionis' book The Mercifully Brief Real World Guide to Raising Thousands (if Not Tens of Thousands) of Dollars with Email is right on target for the small organization that is just getting its feet wet with email marketing. Although it is true to its title in brevity (comes in at 108 pages, but it's probably more like 60 pages when you cut the excessive whitespace and screenshots), any organization who adopts her ideas will avoid many of the common mistakes made by nonprofits online. I have a few quibbles: Although she has a chapter on what to send when you're not asking for money, she really gives short shrift to cultivation and she is far more OK with appending than I am. But the book is full of solid ideas, like Think Campaigns, Not Appeals and Making the Most of Your Numbers. This book would work well in combination with our own Guide to Nonprofit Email. Posted: 10/15/06; 11:37:59 PM #

An Introduction to Systems Thinking

This is the first time I have ever recommended a software manual as stand alone reading. Barry Richmond's An Introduction to Systems Thinking is written for users of the iThink systems analysis software platform, but its lessons are valuable to anyone who wants to hone their practical systems thinking skills. It teaches the basic principles of operational thinking and closed loop thinking that are often missing from the logic models of modern nonprofit projects. I will no doubt review the software itself at some point, but for now, I will recommend the manual itself. Just the library of systems in the latter half of the book are invaluable, although I would love to see funding someday for a pattern language of similar systems descriptions for civil society. Posted: 10/15/06; 11:27:56 PM #

The Muses Among Us

Here is a book for my Keystrokes students and the other writers out there: The Muses Among Us, by Kim Stafford. The subtitle gives you a clue of what I loved about this book: Eloquent Listening and Other Pleasures of the Writer's Craft. This is a book that is more about the structure and practicalities of a writer's life than it is about the written word itself, although in the end you can't separate them. The author's combination of practical wisdom and generosity of spirit makes this a book worth loving and worth listening to. It's already affected how I work. Posted: 10/15/06; 11:21:56 PM #

Behind Closed Doors

Jonathan Rothman and Esther Derby have written an lovely little guide for new managers entitled Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management. The books is cleverly structured around a seven week period as a new manager learns the ropes. The book is very practical in its focus and can easily be skimmed for its tools and tips. Although it's definitely for beginners, it is crammed full of references and even people with 20 years of management experience will find it useful, especially since it is meant to help you bring on new managers. Posted: 10/15/06; 11:15:30 PM #