Behind the new edition of The Complete Fundraising Handbook

You know that feeling in your stomach when you hit ‘send’ on that email campaign you’ve sweated over? Turns out, that’s exactly how it feels to put a book out into the world!

When I was asked to write the 8th edition of The Complete Fundraising Handbook, I said yes because I wanted fundraisers to know you’re not alone, and give you the practical tools and confidence to raise more money for causes that matter. 

Fundraising isn’t complicated, but it is hard.

It’s hard to pick yourself up after (another) rejection. It’s hard to switch off at the weekend when the need hasn’t gone away. It’s hard when your project or finance colleagues don’t get it. It’s hard to convince your manager that their interventions aren’t raising money – they’re just raising your blood pressure. And it’s hard to work with a board who want a 10:1 return on investment… today.

What’s changed since the last edition?

The first edition of Complete Fundraising Handbook was published in 1992. It’s been a staple on fundraiser’s bookshelves since before many of us entered the profession, and I am delighted to have written this 8th edition.

Since the last edition, we’ve lived through a global pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, and the rapid arrival of AI. Fundraisers have more channels than ever before, more technology than ever before, and arguably more pressure than ever before.

Yet the fundamentals haven’t changed.

People give to people. Successful fundraising is built on relationships. Donors give because they are asked to.

This book aims to give you the confidence to stick to these fundamentals when you’re surrounded by what Alan Clayton calls ALOOFs (Amateurs with a Lot Of Opinions about Fundraising).

What’s new in this edition? 

All of the content has been re-written for today’s fundraising environment in a digital world where AI is emerging. There are also significant new chapters on

• Donor retention – How to measure retention and how to influence it, and how to build a culture in your charity where everyone cares about the people who support you
• Career development – discussing the five areas of mastery for career progression (managing tasks, managing projects, managing people, managing change, and managing yourself) alongside the key questions to ask yourself when you’re considering making a career move
• Learning and development – looking at how to invest in your professional growth, especially when budget and time feel scarce.

What I hope you’ll take away

I first asked people for money when I did a sponsored mile at 7 years old. I’ve been the lone fundraiser in a small charity, led fundraising at a multi-million-pound organisation, founded a housing charity, and even sit on the other side of the table as a grant-maker. This isn’t a textbook written from theory; it’s a handbook written from experience. 

My aims throughout have been to give readers practical tools and tips you can action straightaway; to feel more confident and capable; and to feel proud of our profession.

Too often, charities see fundraising as a dirty word. We can feel looked down on by those “doing the real work”, our jobs misunderstood and our attempts to bring about change blocked. Yet in the vast array of careers, few professions carry a more profound sense of purpose or make as big an impact as fundraising. Because of the everyday but significant actions you take in your work, donors experience the joy of giving, hungry people will be fed, lonely people will be befriended, and sick people will be given the care they need. 

The Complete Fundraising Handbook (8th edition) will help you continue to make the world a better place, whether you’re a first-time fundraisers or an experienced leader

Robin Peake is the author of the 8th edition of The Complete Fundraising Handbook, published by the Directory of Social Change. He is Deputy CEO at Wycliffe Bible Translators, where he oversees fundraising.