For A Good Cause: A Practical Guide to Giving Joyfully

by Diane Lebson CFRE

There are many ways to give back, from volunteering, serving on a board, raising funds, or donating time. Each role requires a specific skill set, but where does a person turn to get started? There has never been a formal guide for volunteers and activists to help them navigate the day-to-day activities associated with doing good through philanthropy; until now! So skip scrolling on the internet for hours to figure out how to advance the cause dear to your heart, and use this shortcut guide! “For A Good Cause” by philanthropy expert philanthropist Diane Lebson is for anyone who has ever said to themselves, “If I could make a difference in the world, how would I want to do it?”

Lebson’s book compiles everything you need to know about intentional volunteering and participation in philanthropic events. This accessible guide offers a wealth of information regarding best practices to follow, garnered through decades of experience in a nonprofit career and collaboration with 26 female philanthropists who also share their experience with step-by-step lessons.

Lebson’s priceless knowledge on how women can give joyfully and effectively to a cause is packed into this action-oriented guide, and will surely benefit anyone interested in making the most of their charitable endeavors. Let’s get started!

264 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2021

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book is so well arranged. What I mean by this is that it was thought about in how effective the placement of everything should flow. Each chapter will focus on a different level...volunteer, donor, board member, and organizational founder or at times chapters will hit on several of the different levels. A book that you will refer to again and again. In fact, it is not really right to call this a "book" but more of a guide or workbook.

For anyone who has wanted to get into fund raising or volunteering would benefit from this book. Even those who just want to do some good with their time. This book is motivating. The first story that is featured in this book is about a woman who had never fund raised before and with her first event, she raised more than her goal to help veterans.

So, if you are lost on how to get started, pick up a copy of this book today and start making a difference. Small changes are important too.

[RebeccaReviewedIt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book is A Practical Guide to Giving Joyfully, and that’s a great summary. This book is so well organized. I love the way it gives you specific examples of things you can do, things to think about, and places to look. Volunteering and the work of nonprofits are not equal for everyone, so this is to help you find your place and do the most good. We all have different causes that are near and dear to our hearts, and I feel like this book really got me excited to be more involved. The profiles of women in this book are incredible and inspiring. This book has so much research and actionable steps you can take. You can tell the author has done a lot of research and has put a lot of thought into this book, yet it reads so easily. I was worried it may be a little like reading a textbook, but that could not be any further from the truth. I loved a class I took in college called The Business of Nonprofits, and I think this book would make such a great companion to that course. I really cannot say enough fantastic things about this book. I know I will absolutely be referring to this book as a reference in my future volunteering endeavors! So get out there and make a difference! Thank you so much to Diane Lebson and Books Forward for my ARC!
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[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Books Forward in exchange for an honest review.

This is a guide to navigating nonprofits and volunteering.

As someone with a lot of experience in the public sector I was curious about the book. I think there's a lot of good advice in this book. It talks about the different roles people can take as volunteers, board members, and fundraisers. I disagree with some points, such as the books that the author suggests for diversity, equity, and inclusion and how high-level the discussion of overhead is. Lebson also says a board member is the most important role at a nonprofit, which is not necessarily true.

This is an interesting book that approaches volunteering both for fun and for a living. Lebson breaks down different concepts and how to get the most out of different opportunities. She talks about how to break into the public sector and ways to give time and financially. There's a lot of information about cultivating your giving presence and perspective and a breakdown of the different kind of donors and boards there are. The book also highlights success stories of individuals throughout the book.

I think this is a helpful nonprofit 101 book.