'Fundraising the Dead'

Fundraising consultant Pamela Grow and A Direct Solution's Erica Waasdorp recently turned me on to a novel where the main character is a fundraiser. And it's set in Philadelphia. Philly and fundraising — two of my favorite things!

I asked Erica to write up a quick review, and here it is ...

"Fundraising the Dead" by Sheila Connolly

If I'm not fundraising, working with my clients, blogging or writing, I read. And I absolutely love getting physical books from my local library, although I have started to enjoy books electronically, which are especially easy on trips.

So, when I was nosing around in the library for some pleasant holiday reading, I came across the book "Fundraising the Dead" by Sheila Connolly. Before becoming an author, Sheila was a fundraiser herself, so she certainly knows what she's talking about.

As soon as I started reading the book, a paperback of a few hundred pages, I was hooked. It's very well-written, intriguing and if you like a fun and easy read, this is truly excellent. It has a mix of romance, detective and crime, and even fundraising and donor relations, all interwoven.

The book's main character Nell explains very well what a fundraiser does. She demonstrates how important the relationship with her donors is. Like most great real-life fundraisers I know, she is very aware of the programs and the roles of all other staffers and volunteers in the Historical Museum that's at the heart of this book. She's truly the spider in the web in many ways. And there are some ethical questions that come into play as well, just like we as fundraisers all have to deal with.

But I suggest you read it for yourself. I'm certainly going to check out to see if Sheila Connolly has any other great fundraising novels in her repertoire. — Erica Waasdorp