Fundraising for Small Museums

Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr. is president and CEO of the Atlanta Historical Society and has spent much of his life raising money for various organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution and Columbia Museum of Art.

For many years, fundraising has become an increasingly important function at small museums. Usually reliant on small staffs and volunteers who have to perform multiple tasks, and too poor to afford development personnel, these institutions have struggled in their efforts to raise money effectively. Until now there have been few resources available for small museums to turn to for help. Sal Cilella's new book is exactly what has been needed for a long time. Written by one of the most successful fundraisers in our profession, this book provides invaluable insights into the challenges of fundraising today, and gives its readers a practical, common sense approach to how to do it well. This is a book that belongs on the bookshelves of every small museum in the country. For that matter, museums of any size would benefit from Cilella's wise counsel.

• PrefaceChapter 1. Philanthropy and the non-profit worldChapter 2. The Universe of FundraisingChapter 3. Stewardship: Managing the Donor Relationship, or The Continuity of ApproachChapter 4. Methods of Solicitation: Asking for the OrderChapter 5. Membership, Annual Appeal, and Special EventsChapter 6. Managing a Capital CampaignChapter 7. GrantsmanshipChapter 8. Major Gifts, Transformational Gifts and Deferred or Planned Giving: Concepts for the Advanced InstitutionChapter 9. Concepts for the Advanced InstitutionBibliography