Fund-of-funds Books

This book provides an excellent overview and details of the various types of funding for endowment plans - what to do, how to do it. It's useful for 501(C)3's even if there are no plans for an endowment.

This book is essential. It is easy to read, and you can use it as a reference for when ever the hard questions come up. Everyone on your staff will need a copy by their desk. Diana Newman has done it again, I loved Opening Doors-- and this is just a great addition to my understanding of nonprofits.

Diana Newman has written a wonderful book on endowment, appropriate for the thousands of non-profit organizations who deserve to live in perpetuity, and yet don't have large fund development programs. I ordered it March 2005, and have since included it in curriculum for educating my nonprofit clients. Their feedback? The book is easy to comprehend, and full of useful information.

Ms. Newman's understanding of the issues, and her practical suggestions, are right on!

Endowments really make the difference in which non-profits are going to survive for the long term. The steady income from an investment portfolio provides a base that can sustain the existance of the non-profit during bad times.

The techniques needed for obtaining endowment funding are quite different than those used to secure funds to answer immediate needs. The author has been a professional fundraiser for many years. Yet, when she started she was assigned a series of tasks including fundraising, a membership program, a volunteer corp, and "Oh yes, establish an endowment."

As she says, this is the book she wishes she had had to start her fundraising career. This is a combined how-to book and a how-to-think book. It talks of every aspect of endowment funding from what is an endowment to measuring the success of your efforts. Inbetween are stories of projects that have been conducted by successful fundraisers.

There are very few books on endowments, this is the most recent and reflects the current state of the investment marketplace and what has been successful lately.

Easy to read and practical ideas to get your organization started or jump-started again. Do yourself a favor, buy this one for yourself and your new staff. It's a handy reference guide for anyone serious about the topic.

Owl in the Office is in a series called Animal Ark. The Animal Ark Series is about Mandy Hope, a veterinarian's daughter, who helps her mom and dad in the clinic while solving problems with her best friend, James Hunter.

Mandy and James stumble upon a baby owl that fell from a tree. The two friends take it to Animal Ark, Mandy's parents' veterinary clinic. After the owl's check up, Dr. Emily Hope (Mandy's mom) James, and Mandy take the owl to the sanctuary where it canrecover from the fall. Once inside, they realize the sanctuary needs money, FAST. Mandy and James decide to raise money for the sanctuary by having the Grand Novelty Pet Show. If the show is successful, the sanctuary will keep running. But if the show isn't successful, Betty Hilder, the owner of the sancuary will have to give the animals away. But if people don't want them, they will have to be put down. Can Mandy and James save the sanctuary?

I love this book because it's about animals and mysteries. So, if you like animals or mysteries or even both, then I would recommend this book and series. I love this series, especially this book.

Mandy Hope is always saving animals, has come up with a plan to save Betty Hilders' Animal Sancuary. A very exicting story. I think it is my favorite out of all the Animal Ark Series!

This is a great book for animal lovers! When Mandy and her friend James learn that the animal sancuary is going to close because of money problems, they organize an event to save it! This is probably the best book in the Animal Ark series!

The animal shelter in Welford has to close down because they don't have enough money to keep it open. Mandy and James have to find a way to raise money for the animal shelter's rent so the animals will be able to continue living at the shelter until they find homes.

I thought the book was really good. I liked Blackie the dog, because he always stole cupcakes and cakes! I always like a book with a happy ending like this one.

A fantastic book, and so reminiscent of my stint as Administrator of the mayor's home, Gracie Mansion, in New York City during the Koch administration. As someone responsible for executing hundreds of dinners, cocktail parties, and huge events at the mayor's home and at the city hall of the most-visited city on earth, I can say that this book captured the frenzy, fun, food, and frazzle of trying to organize a political event. Temple Sachet's do-or-die determination to please everyone, seat everyone in the right place, and make sure every single person gets a handshake and photo with the biggest honcho in the room, is spot on! Nicole Sexton and Susan Johnston even nailed the crushing panic of last-minute disasters... Reading this book reminded me of one of my own...The day I arrived to oversee the set-up of a huge dinner for the Governor of Tokyo only to realize that the gardeners had just fertilized the lawn. The whole mansion literally reeked of s#%t! A few staff members and I raced all over the Upper East Side of Manhattan buying up incense. We lit it all over the mansion and it worked! The house even had the faint but welcome scent of a Japanese temple... These are the kinds of authentic stories you will find in this page-turner.

I just went on an overseas trip and little did I know that the most important item I had packed could fit right in my carry-on: PARTY FAVORS! I quickly discovered that when I pulled it out on the flight, and it was really the perfect tons-of-fun plane trip read that made the time pass lightning fast! I could not put it down. It was so interesting (I LOVED the fundraising stories and political insider info, I had no idea that even went on in DC like that)--and it was wildly funny, I laughed out loud several times and people around me kept looking over to try and see what I was reading!! I really liked Temple as a protagonist, she was a really strong, inspiring woman and I was able to relate to her at the same time. It's refreshing to see the contrast between her invincibility-on-the-job and her moments of insecurity and her personal losses. And it definitely made me want to buy a red YSL power suit someday, haha.

I will be shocked if it doesn't become a TV show soon...it has a great world to explore and would be a refreshing way to make a female lead be part of a show that has both drama and fun but also has a real, serious political side. I think that several of my female college friends would enjoy that, who currently like all the soap-opera-ish comedy type shows on TV but also read "The Economist" and the NY Times regularly and would like a way to combine entertainment with real issues of integrity/politics. So bravo, I am a big fan!

Pick up a copy of PARTY FAVORS and I promise your next trip--whether it be on the subway, on a jumbo jet or just to a park bench in the sun--will be much more enjoyable!

I just finished. Rats! My favorite bedtime story is over. How coincidentally timely that I should be smack dab in the middle of my first political fundraising! I need more of Temple Sachet (main character) to advise me, console me, and take me into her gallows humor every night!

What a ride. Both writers should be applauded for surviving the living and the telling.

Fun, fast read about a fascinating world (Republican fundraising?! who'da thought!), an incredibly relatable woman (even tho she hobs & nobs), and a whole slew of "blind items." Not sure whether it was more exciting to find out whether she'd ever get any, how she'd ever get out of that job, or who all the congressmen really are.

Party Favors is a terrific read. It makes you feel like a Washington insider. Temple Sachet is a powerful yet feminine main character---I loved the honesty in emotion, top intellect, humor and know-how of this protagonist.

Don't put this book on a book shelf...it should be on the cordenza within easy reach of every executive director, board member, missionary, pastor or fund raiser. Bill Dillon has made his 30 year expertise in fund raising available to everyone. This is a must have for any person who is raising funds (and developing friends) for a worthy cause.

This book is primarily written for missionaries raising support but as a church planter it proved to be a useful resource as well. I didn't really use it the way it was designed - as a small group resource with discussion questions. But I did read through it and sometimes stop to think through the questions at the end of each chapter. In the overwhelming process of raising support, this was a very helpful and encouraging guide.

Fundraising for most missionaries, especially new ones, is often a daunting and even scary task. Next to confidence in God's call to serve in missions and faith in God's provision for this call, this book provided me with the tools to get through two missions works. In clear and brief chapters, the book biblically defends the practice of fundraising and then lays out a clear path for fundraising that anyone can follow. Fundraising is still hard, and will challenge your faith in ways that few other things will, but the advice and plan laid out in this book will successfully guide you through the process. May God use this book to bless you in your missions endeavor .

For missionaries that are responsible for raising their own support, this book is a must. Regardless if you are new to mission work and new to support raising or a veteran missionary with a continuing need to raise support; this book has definite and practical guidelines and tips that anyone will understand. The text not only brings the Biblical basis for raising support and deputation to light, but also illustrates how to train yourself.

The design of the book shows you, in example format, real life scenarios and encourages study within a self-paced atmosphere. Because of its design, many people can come together and use the group study portion of the book, which allows for discussions and other interaction. The examples are clear and in step-by-step format. It even shows you how to write letters and word them to be more effective.

I highly recommend this book to any and all missionaries interested in gathering financial or prayer support. Fund and support raising is not something I was excited about until after I finished this book. I was so pleased with People Raising, I recommended it to several of my close missionary friends who are in need of financial support.

Thanks to Bill Dillon, his book, his videos for training thousands of missionaries to take the gospel all over the world. He has done the kingdom a great service. His book is very practical and easy to use. I have read every word of it. Thanks Bill.

After my baby was born, I knew I wanted to save for her college. I read this book and another 529 book. This book was ok. I got more information from the 529 for Dummies book. It walked me through the college savings process, explained how to get college financing, and listed all the 529 companies to go with for each state. It decussed tax issues as well. This is not an easy read for someone that does not have a clue about 529's (Me).

David Braverman's book is a great help in understanding how to finance a college education. It gives families the financial knowledge they need to plan and choose wisely for the future. This book cuts through all the confusion and is clear and easy to read. It's a wonderful guide and resource for all families investing in college.

Successfully finding a book regarding how to save for college depends heavily on the background of the reader. I am mathematically adept (majored in economics) and not a novice regarding buying and selling securities (but I don't go short or do derivatives directly). I needed a book that contains strategies that incorporate the current version of the tax code and investment basics. After some false starts (see some of my other reviews for these), I found this book to be a delight. Finally, somewhat unusual for me, I am keeping this book for future reference even after reading it.

David Braverman, a senior director at Standard & Poor's, looks at how financial aid can be part of your savings plan, how to use 529 and Coverdell plans effectively, and the new tax benefits available. For people who are serious about preparing for one of the major expenditures of their entire lives, this is one of the books you need to read early on. Definitely worth a read.

Tom Nixon
Cheap College Degrees website
http://www.cheapdegrees.com

I own and run a small investment firm and this book is what we give our clients to read. We also train our brokers and advisors with this book (among others). Of course, plans and details change constantly, but we feel this is a more than adequate book that's pretty straight and to the point on information for the average person.

I get the feeling they were trying to be "politically correct" in mentioning a lot of plans and ideas on how to save without trying to piss of mutual funds and other managers though. So many states have weird plans that allow little choice to the consumer besides 3 choices. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish they didn't pull punches and really reviewed and said what they really thought sometimes :-)

The author presents various scenarios that are supported by past events. Timelines, degree and origin of crisis miss the bullseye, but not the target. The author does mention CMO's, which sound like the CDO debacle now unfolding due to subprime loans packaged within these securities.
Extremely enlightening. An excellent bargain for .01 cent. It's the ultimate "contrarian" purchase for a personal finance book.

This book shows a breadth of knowledge and depth of investigation that is rarely offered to the investing public. The fact that the book ends with a chapter on Further Reading indicates that the author respects the intelligence of his readers and is interested in what he is writing. A book of this quality shows by example how much junk is out there, yet the author is modest and always seeks to help the reader, not exhort. I read it after the onset of the two year bear market and in some ways, not all of the predictions have been met yet, making this book still worth your reading. The persistent heavy volume of trading in the QQQs and the recent snap back rally (5/2002)suggest that the public is seeking further punishment and the crisis is not yet matured. I hope the author rewrites it with the current changes in the market in mind: iShares, ETFs, gold and the rediscovery of the emerging market (only a rediscovery to the amnesiac). His style is intelligent and refreshing. You'll need to read it carefully, since some ideas only appear fully developed in a single passage. I couldn't put it down.

This is a book that should be read by anyone that considers themselves to be PRUDENT investors. When people say they are LONG-TERM investors, do they really know what they are saying? What do they mean? Do they realize that a dollar invested today may be worth 1.25 in 6 months -(due to the mania of this market) - but only worth 50 cents in 5 or 10 years? It could likely be worse than that. These mutual funds are being run by young hot shots that have no concept of doing anything but putting "money to work" (buying) due to the massive influx of money pouring in over the years. All reasonable valuation models have been trashed and "investors" have become extremely complacent because it's been so easy to "make" money. Sorry, it's not that easy or realistic! The selling will soon come in waves. Be wise and prepare youself for what will go down in history as the worst bear market ever, followed by a worldwide depression. Best of luck to all! P.S. I also recommend a book called "THE WARNING" by Joseph Granville and "THE GREAT CRASH of 1929" by John Galbraith. The parallels between then and now are too striking to ignore. So don't be one of the mindless herd.................

Just as speculators were lured into joint stock companies centuries ago (e.g., Tulipomania, South Sea Bubble), and investors of all kinds were seduced by unrealistic promises of stock pools and investment trusts of the 1920s and the "Go-Go Mutual Fund Mania" of the 1960s, so too are today's savers-turned-speculators being led down a path toward financial tragedy by the "New Era", "buy-and-hold" mania that has gripped the public's imagination for the past seven years. Christensen warns investors of the pitfalls and potential disaster that awaits anyone who thinks that mutual funds are a good way to diversify against risk. Mutual funds use derivatives, borrow from one another, engage in margin speculation, and are increasingly less shareholder friendly as massive inflows of money from uninformed savers breed arrogance and abandonment of risk aversion by mostly inexperienced, starry-eyed portfolio managers under 35 years of age. When the public discovers stocks and other financial assets, the risk becomes extreme and the party is almost over. Don't be one of those caught blaming the portfolio manager, the government, or Wall Street, when the blood starts flowing and you lose your life savings in a matter of a year or two.

I can't understand why this book is listed out of print. Why aren't more people demanding this book? Maybe there aren't enough investors yet who are worried about the safety of their money.

Just recently (Sept 99) a few money market funds ran into a bit of trouble - exactly the kind of trouble described in this book. Are you still assuming that your money market fund is safe and that a fixed NAV of $1 will be maintained?

The book definitely opened up my eyes to other alternatives for places to put money. Because of this book I've rediscovered alternatives like Treasury Bills and savings bonds.

However I did question the author's suggestions for a self-directed portfolio containing municipal bonds and widely held stocks. After the Orange County, California fiasco I would not consider municipal bonds. And I would question the idea of holding the same widely-held stocks that the institutional investors hold.

John Taylor was a member of the House of Representatives from Virgina. He also wrote "New Views of the Constitution" in 1823 which is a thorough but difficult read (Tayor was an attorney and writes like one). Taylor witnessed trends in the national government that were moving towards weakening the Constitution of states rights and self-determination into the Whig desire for power and centralization that would benefit the northern industrialialists. A Virginian born into the values of Jeffersonian Democracy, his writings forewarned of the coming of what became the Republican party, it's centralized grasp for power, empire building and the loss of personal freedoms subjected to the centralized government and their favored corporations. I wish I could have read such quality volumes in my high school history classes instead of the revisionist history that perpetuated the mythology of the centralized government.

This volume is well worth the read. It is my experience that most of the population will not understand what you learn from them, nor be interested in the conflict that it will awaken within them.

John Taylor of Caroline was arguably the best farmer in Virginia during the first quarter of the nineteenth century, carrying out experiments and advocating scientific farming techinques. In addition, he was a sometime politician and constant cultural critic. Tyranny Unmasked argues that the moneyed class in the north and especially in the cities created conditions that would eventually destroy American freedom as conceptualized by Thomas Jefferson: the freedom created by the independent "yeoman farmer" beholden to no higher power for his livelihood. According to Taylor, the emerging finance-oriented capitalist economy developing during this period distorted the "pure" capitalism in which an unmanipulated market provided the best measure of price for goods offered by productive workers. In this work and others, and especially in his uncollected congressional speeches, Taylor rails against the "pecuniary aristocracy" of big financiers that he saw as having undue influence on American laws and policies.

The main caveat I refer to for potential readers has to do with Taylor's advocacy of slavery. Some commentators have justified this advocacy with the typical appeal that southern culture demanded that he support his region's beliefs. While the pressures of social and cultural acceptance were intense, even admirers of Taylor should be disturbed by his (as well as Jefferson's) promotion of a type of American freedom founded not only on denying African Americans any freedom at all but also on horrendous treatment that literally worked many slaves to death and made even those in less oppressive situations live in constant fear.

Taylor was truly a genius in critiqing the society in which he lived but he also supported the continuation of a monstrous blight on American life and identity.

John Taylor of Caroline is one of the most brilliant political philosophers that America has ever produced. This work in particular demonstrates a compelling critique of government interference in economic matters that also demonstrates Taylor's firm grasp of political economy. Above all, this book is an absolute joy to read.

John Taylor of Caroline's " Tyranny Unmasked" is a brilliant analysis of enonomic and political economy in the early 1820's. Taylor points out the injustice and folly of protective tariffs and their effects. He astutely shows how by " protecting" an industry from competition you effectively raise the price of the product and foster a government- business alliance destructive of liberty. He shows how financial interests use tariffs to unfairly gain advantage over other competitors and also how they
attain dominence over the representatives of the people through
their influence. Taylor recommends a Jeffersonian ideal of free trade, low taxes, and an abolition of protective tariffs. Overall a great Jeffersonian read.

Once upon a time, educated Americans could be presumed to be familiar with the writings of the Greeks and, especially, the Romans. This familiarity prepared them for republican citizenship in a way that today's smorgasbord approach to post-secondary education manifestly does not prepare contemporary Americans. Read _Tyranny Unmasked_ for evidence of the first of these assertions: John Taylor of Caroline, self-consciously provincial Virginia planter, foresaw the following 150 years' course in America with great clarity, and he lamented it the whole way. This is a great book by one of America's all-time great political thinkers.

Diane Eble's book delves into the issue of the gifts of God in a wonderful way. The main premise of the book is that there are gifts in all events in our lives, even (or maybe particularly) in the difficult times; we just need to open our eyes to see them.

Eble's message is based on her collection of stories from her own life as well as the lives of others. Each day presents a different story and a discussion of the gift the narrator discovered as a result.

I picked up this book in a bookstore at a particularly hard time in my life, when I needed spiritual support. In the dark days I experienced, Abundant Gifts was a ray of light shining through, helping me to think, "What gift is God giving me today?" It helped open my eyes to the reality of a God who cares about me in the little details of my life and who wants me to see and delight in His blessings.

Abundant Gifts was a blessing in my life. Thank you, Diane Eble!

So many of these stories touched my heart. I hated to have the book come to an end. I plan to reread it again as the new year starts. It is hard not to read the whole book in one sitting, but it is set up as a daily devotional and I savored it by reading just one story a day. I also believe, as the author shows in some of the stories, that God has a sense of humor. I have given several copies as gifts.

Rarely has a book roused in me so many profound revelations as has Diane Eble's "Abundant Gifts." The real-life stories contained in her book are exquisite nuggets of wisdom that unwrap God's miraculous gifts to anyone who's willing to open their eyes to find them. I can't even count the number of times I've read some of these stories aloud to friends who needed the right words spoken in due season.

As you turn the pages of her book, read the words slowly -- and savor the rich morsels as you would a meal so extraordinarily tasty you hope it never ends. There are 5 stories to be read each week -- one for every weekday -- but they're so irresistible you'll be tempted to read all the stories in one sitting. This book has changed my life so much that I've given it as a gift to more people than any other book I've encountered.

Diane Eble has such a wonderful way with words. Besides being beautifully designed (in either edition) this book overflows with well-written, touching and timely devotions. Abundant Gifts truly is a gift!

Deborah Raney, author of A Nest of Sparrows and Playing by Heart

This book discusses the abundant gifts that God has in store for us each and every day. The author not only urges us to discover these gifts in our own lives, but also shows many examples in these devotions. By living in an expectant fashion, we discover and are amazed at what God does to personally affect our lives. I would recommend this book for all who believe in God. Busy people who would like to take the time for a short devotion will appreciate how quickly it reads -- but the message of each devotion will touch hearts.

This book is a great place to start for smaller groups and for someone with no ideas on how to get started fundraising. Most of the ideas have very little investment required which is another plus.

I also recomend [...] which has a free fundraising program my organization of under 100 members utilized to raise over $11K last year.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to raise some money. It's a friendly, practical guide that offers lots of smart guidance and creative tips. There's great advice here on a variety of options--from houseparties to raffles to carwashes--and the authors help you figure out which event is right for you. I especially liked the advice on how to ask for money in person (which can be scary at first), and the "do's and don'ts" lists will help you avoid making some common mistakes. If you need to raise money for your child's school or athletic team, for your church or community group, to help disaster victims, or for a political cause, this book is the best guide around.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to raise some money. It's a friendly, practical guide that offers lots of smart guidance and creative tips. There's great advice here on a variety of options--from houseparties to raffles to carwashes--and the authors help you figure out which event is right for you. I especially liked the advice on how to ask for money in person (which can be scary at first), and the "do's and don'ts" lists will help you avoid making some common mistakes. If you need to raise money for your child's school or athletic team, for your church or community group, to help disaster victims, or for a political cause, this book is the best guide around.

This book has easy to follow, step by step plans for ways small entities can raise funds. There is enough variey in the types of projects described that any agency can choose the one that seems to suit the "personality" of the agency. It should make raising money seem less daunting and within the abilities of most people.

This book is a terrific resource for new or inexperienced fundraisers, or even veterans who need to brush up on the basics. The worksheets and step-by-step, detailed instructions are easy to follow and execute. The authors have found a way to make the actual work of fundraising into a manageable process. This book is invaluable to most anyone's fundraising efforts -- and is especially useful for volunteer fundraisers!

The item ordered though advertised as "used" was in A -1 condition and the order was shipped promptly.

This is a refreshing edition with the white paper and clear print. The old ones are yellowed and just plain tired. I don't sing unless they want "tree frogs" in the group. I really purchased this to leave at the church for ayone to use.

This is the Hymnal used in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA)from 1940 until 1982. It is reflective of the classic and traditional orthodoxy of that period. Though the hymnal has been replaced in ECUSA it is still used by many traditional jurisdictions of Anglicans in the United States. Some of the tunes are unfamilar and difficult to follow for those who are only acquainted with contemporary church music. However,any added effort on the part of the learner is rewarded in the richness of the recovery of these classic tunes. The theology is vibrant and sound. The binding of the volume is durable and the type is clear and readable. The 1940 Hymnal is a sound investment for any church or individual who desires to regain familiarity with traditional Protestant hymnody. For many of us in the "buster generation" these hymns have provided a connection with the transcendent we were looking for. Well worth the purchase.

This hymnal is replete with example after example of the best, most beautiful, most intelligent congregational music Christendom has to offer, from ancient to modern. Happy is the church that sings these songs of praise and affirmation.

Were you a choirboy? Did you get a copy of your hymnal or prayer book for perfect attandance at Sunday School? For two generations since the middle of World War II, the prize for many Episcopal choirboys was this book, The Hymnal 1940. Most hymnals are serious works of scholarship: laboriously constructed by a committee appointed by the church to review, revise, edit and augment its previous hymnals, they are then condemned to perpetual scrutiny and comment by its users. This hymnal was no exception; indeed, the similarly sized "Hymnal Companion," which dilated at length on each hymn, was published along with it. Now superseded by the 1982 version, it is still considered a masterpiece and superior in several respects to its successor, in particular for its legibility, certain of its texts, and its inclusion of some hymns dropped in 1982. By then the Hymnal 1940 had been augmented to over 700 hymns and 160 pieces of service music. It contains several indexes by which a hymn can be located in several different ways, including the useful "metrical index," not a feature of every hymnal. The music ranges in age from the earliest years of the Christian era right up to the 1930's; so you will find most of your favorite classical composers represented. If you have other hymnals, you should have this one. If you don't, this is about the best place to start.