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Charity by the book
Posted on 15 Jan 2025
By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia
Looking for some insightful summer reading on the charity and not-for-profit sector before the year begins in earnest?
Check out these recent and soon-to-be-released books that take a deep dive into all things for purpose, from philanthropy and fundraising to charitable advocacy.
Charities & Politics: A principled approach
By Matthew Harding
University of Melbourne professor of law Matthew Harding does a great job of explaining simply and succinctly why charitable advocacy is important in a liberal democratic society and the challenges faced by charities attempting to adhere to these ideals in agitating for change.
Published as part of Monash University Publishing’s In the National Interest series, Harding makes a solid argument in support of a principled approach to constructing the legal building blocks needed to enshrine the public benefits of charitable advocacy in law.
According to Harding, this would not only protect charities from government interference aimed at curtailing their right to campaign for positive change that may be politically inconvenient, but act as a counter to the increasingly common politics of fear and self-interest so often on display in the world today.
Harding will join charity law expert Murray Baird and ANU’s Dr Darryn Jensen for a panel discussion to explore themes raised in the book, moderated by Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (CLAANZ) chair Professor Ian Murray on February 11.
Heart & Soul of Marketing
By Matt Romania
Matt Romania has spent 15 years volunteering and working with a diverse roster of charity and not-for-profit organisations across the sector.
Having learned much along the way, the marketing consultant wanted to share that knowledge in a bid to help for purpose organisations be more effective.
The result is Heart & Soul of Marketing, a strategic and practical guide to help charities connect more meaningfully with their supporters, expand their visibility, and increase their impact.
Inspired by countless conversations with charity leaders, exploring the challenges they've faced, and the successes they've achieved, Romania has penned what he describes as a flexible set of tools that can be adapted to fit the unique needs of any organisation.
“My hope is that this book can offer even a little bit of support to those working so hard to make a difference,” he said.
The book has been endorsed by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and not-for-profit sector leaders including CEO of Fundraising Institute Australia Katherine Raskob and the CEO of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, Sarah Davies.
Heart and Soul of Marketing is due for release in May but can be pre-ordered now.
Savvy Giving: A roadmap for contemporary philanthropy in Australia (2nd edition)
By Genevieve Timmons
Australian Communities Foundation
First published in 2013, Savvy Giving quickly became a bible for many in the charity and not-for-profit space on how to go about achieving effective grantmaking and philanthropy.
The book has now been comprehensively updated to reflect changes over the past decade and provide a “roadmap for contemporary giving in Australia.”
With a mix of historical context, expert perspective and practical advice, chapters range from an explanation of the philanthropic ecosystem to obtaining the right skills for giving and how to construct an effective funding proposal.
There are also more than 20 stories and case studies designed to illustrate savvy approaches to philanthropic giving.
As articulated by Philanthropy Australia CEO Maree Sidey, Savvy Giving is “a great resource to help your giving reach its full potential.”
Great Fundraising Organizations: Why and How the World’s Best Charities Excel at raising Money
Wiley (Published January 29)
Penned by Scotland-based international not-for-profit consultant Alan Clayton, Great Fundraising Organizations is described as a “proven blueprint for charities and not-for-profits worldwide to scale their fundraising efforts and effectiveness.”
The basis of that confident boast is data gathered across two decades by Clayton, CEO of business consultancy Revolutionise International, when he worked with more than 500 organisations including UNICEF and the World Wildlife Fund, analysing what mindsets, strategies, and practices work and why.
Readers can expect to learn why some NFPs are able to dramatically increase revenue while others can't, what makes leadership at a successful fundraising organisation different and why some fundraising campaigns drive growth, and others fail.
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