Early in my career, I was given a copy of a book which my experienced colleague at the time said would “be the basis for your success.” The book was Designs for Fund-Raising by Harold J. Seymour. Harold (Si) Seymour is considered one of the founding fathers of modern fundraising. His book, originally published in 1966, established many fundamental concepts that still form the backbone of fundraising practice today.
For me, these are the key aspects that remain relevant:
- The emphasis on relationship-building rather than simply asking for money
- The importance of thorough planning and strategic campaign design
- Understanding donor psychology and motivation
- The cultivation cycle for major gifts
- The concept of donor stewardship