FLiPping Pages: Harvey McKinnon Book Review

The 11 Questions Every Donor Asks and the Answers All Donors Crave: How You Can Inspire Someone to Give Generously, By Harvey McKinnon

Reviewed by Courtney Powers

The 11 Questions Every Donor Asks and the Answers All Donors Crave proves that you should never judge a book by its cover, or its title. Harvey McKinnon’s newest book may come across as yet another standard how-to book on fundraising. Instead, Mr. McKinnon’s casual, conversational writing style both engages the reader and successfully embroiders real life anecdotes (from experts in the field) to illustrate his points as he answers each question.

Throughout the book Mr. McKinnon, a fundraiser (and donor) for over 30 years, clearly presents his knowledge of the subject in a friendly, common sense way that everyone from the newest fundraiser to the most experienced will appreciate.

The book is broken down so each chapter asks and answers a question that “all donors crave.”  Each question is relevant to the field, and Mr. McKinnon skillfully weaves in additional tips and solutions for fundraisers. For example he takes on the common issue of overhead costs while answering “How much do you want?” He offers a four-step solution to respond to the question starting with “know the numbers” and closing with “refocus the mission.”

In sum, 11 Questions is a wonderful read, both enjoyable and informative. No matter the extent of your expertise or time spent in the field you should pick up a copy. One hundred quick pages later you will have the answers to far more than 11 questions!

NYC FLiPs: Support One of Your Own at Two Fun Events

FLiPs, we know from our events how multi-talented you are, and that one of those talents is having a good time!  And when that good time is for a fellow FLiP’s good cause…all the better.  FLiP friend Rachel Doyle, Founder of nonprofit GlamourGals, tells us about two upcoming events that will support GG’s program.  On Friday, May 15th GG will host its first-annual Haute Pink Luncheon from 12-2pm, to be followed by the annual Glamour in the City benefit from 8-10pm.  Both events are being held at Openhouse Gallery, located at 201 Mulberry Street in SoHo.  For ticket pricing and to register, go here.  Event details below.

GlamourGals’ local mission is to foster intergenerational relationships between teen girls and elderly women living in senior homes through monthly facials and makeovers.  Its national mission is to create the structure and provide the resources that encourage compassionate teen leadership through local intergenerational programming.

Event Details

The Haute Pink Luncheon will convene an estimated 100 guests from the philanthropy, beauty, fashion and health industries.  Guests will enjoy lunch, provided by Tossed, Sweet Street Desserts, Siggys Icelandic yogurt and FIJI Water, followed by a keynote by Neeta Shah, M.D., F.A.C.P., Vice President of Women’s Health Services North-Shore-LIJ Health System on “5 Haute Ways to Health” and an interactive panel on “Reducing Stress and Staying Fashionable” featuring Caryn Zweig, Chief Operating Officer Abner, Herrman & Brock Asset Management; Andrea March, Co-Founder, Women’s Leadership Exchange; Jordana Jaffe, Founder, live ORGANIZED; and Nixa De Bellis, yoga teacher, Exhale Spa.  Raffle and silent auction items include a $15,000 Stephen Arnold platinum and diamond ring, a weekend stay at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, and a $2,500 Kleinfeld Bridal gift certificate.  Gift bag items total over $700.  Benefactors of the Andrew and Ann Tisch Foundation and Brookdale Senior Living will join GlamourGals in honoring Lauren Ruotolo, Director Entertainment Promotions, Hearst Corporation as this year’s Inspiration Glammy Winner. 

Glamour in the City
Ever wanted to walk the red carpet?  GG will do you one better – walk the hot pink carpet at this cocktail fete featuring unlimited Yuengling beer, BOUKE wine (featuring a presentation by the winery’s founder and proprietor), confections from Sweet Street Desserts, music by Daisy O’Dell, and a photography exhibit, “Conversations in Beauty.”  Great silent auction and raffle items, too.  Attendees 21+ only please.  Wear something hot pink to gain admission!

When Worlds Collide

We asked Maya to tell us a little more about the New York City Venture Philanthropy Fund as a follow up to her last post because the idea of a small group of people wanting to make change (and making it!) is one that is close to FLiP's heart.

New York City – so many people to meet and so much to do!  It's easy to stay within the groups you know for the convenience.  But breaking out of your own world makes it possible for a small group of people to make big change.

The New York City Venture Philanthropy Fund (VPF) brings together people from across sectors - staff and employees from nonprofit organizations, philanthropies, and corporations as well as freelancers of all varieties.  Heather Rees started VPF by gathering a group of people in her home through a post on the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network-NYC listserv.  From this meeting, a small group of strangers united by the idea of giving differently recruited other members.  When these diverse worlds collided, this small group of people with different networks and areas of expertise took the idea of small money making big change and put it into action.  

A sampling of VPF’s diversity includes: computer programmers, nonprofit managers, advertising and marketing professionals, corporate sales, Wall Street finance folks, graduate students and philanthropic professionals.  Diversity brings a richness of experience through different perspectives and expertise.  Through this team VPF created from scratch: a marketing and branding identity and philosophy; a membership and outreach strategy with implementation; social networking vehicles including Facebook and Twitter accounts; a grantmaking process that started with a request for proposals and ended with a $10,000 grant award; and perhaps most importantly, a community.  From one idea and one person, VPF has grown to more than 37 members and counting. 

If you want to learn more about how to make small money equal big change, you may want to get involved in a giving circle like VPF or hear about what is going on by following VPF on Twitter.