13 Best Fundraising Books
We analyzed 5+ expert sources, curated book lists, and recommendations from successful people to find the 13 best fundraising books according to the internet — not just one person's opinion. Each book on this list was mentioned by at least two independent sources, and the ranking is based on how frequently each title appears across all sources studied. This consensus-based approach ensures you get recommendations backed by multiple experts, not a single reviewer's bias.
Goal: Find the best Fundraising books according to the internet (not just one person's opinion).
Method:
- Search for "best fundraising books" and study the top 5+ pages.
- Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
- Rank the results neatly here.
13 Best Fundraising Books
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Building Donor Loyalty
The Fundraiser's Guide to Increasing Lifetime Value
It's Not Just About the Money
How to Build Authentic Donor Relationships
The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications
Real-World, Field-tested Strategies for Raising More Money
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Also recommended by
18 people
Warren Buffett recommended this bookWarren Buffett
"In my office, you will not see the degree I have from the University of Nebraska, or the master’s degree I have from Columbia University, but you’ll see the certificate I got from the Dale Carnegie course." - Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett's recommendation of this book 
Scott Adams recommended this bookScott Adams
One of the books on Scott Adams' "Persuasion Reading List."
Scott Adams's recommendation of this book 
Dave Ramsey recommended this bookDave Ramsey
Recommended on Dave Ramsey's website.
Dave Ramsey's recommendation of this book 
Paul Graham recommended this bookPaul Graham
"The one book we encourage startup founders to read. [...] It's critically important for anyone in business." - Paul Graham
Paul Graham's recommendation of this book 
Derek Sivers recommended this bookDerek Sivers
Derek Sivers mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Derek Sivers's recommendation of this book 
Dustin Moskovitz recommended this bookDustin Moskovitz
"Seek to be understood." - Dustin Moskovitz
Dustin Moskovitz's recommendation of this book +12
More recommendations
- Ken Block
"One of the first books that really helped me achieve my management style and what’s helped me really be successful." - Ken Block
- DJ Vlad
Most Recommended Books reached out to DJ Vlad directly.
- Strauss Zelnick
"Archaic references and overweening title to the side, it’s actually a great guide to leadership and salesmanship." - Strauss Zelnick
- Daymond John
"I love all the Dale Carnegie books." - Daymond John
- Shay Carl
"A staple that I have listened to three or four times." - Shay Carl
- Tim Draper
"[One of the books] that are recommended or required at Draper University." - Tim Draper
- Sahil Lavingia
Sahil Lavingia recommended this book on Notion.
- Barbara Corcoran
"A must read for anyone in business." - Barbara Corcoran
- Alex Hormozi
Alex Hormozi recommended this book on Instagram.
- Michael Hyatt
Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.
- Ben Greenfield
Most Recommended Books reached out to Ben Greenfield directly.
- Patrick Bet-David
Patrick Bet-David recommended this book on his website.
- Ken Block
Influence
The Psychology of Persuasion
Also recommended by
18 people
Tobi Lütke recommended this bookTobi Lütke
"The most mind-bending book you can imagine, because it essentially taught you always humans are flawed and influential." - Tobi Lütke
Tobi Lütke's recommendation of this book - Scott Adams recommended this book
Scott Adams
"100 percent of effective people seem to have read [this book]. In fact, it’s one of those things that when I meet somebody and they’re operating at a pretty high level, if you mention [this book], they’ve all read it." - Scott Adams
Scott Adams's recommendation of this book 
Naval Ravikant recommended this bookNaval Ravikant
"Fundamental and had a lot to teach." - Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant's recommendation of this book 
Charlie Munger recommended this bookCharlie Munger
Charlie Munger recommended this book in the "Poor Charlie's Almanack" book.
Charlie Munger's recommendation of this book 
Adam Robinson recommended this bookAdam Robinson
Adam Robinson mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Adam Robinson's recommendation of this book 
Ramit Sethi recommended this bookRamit Sethi
Ramit Sethi mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Ramit Sethi's recommendation of this book +12
More recommendations
- Alexis Ohanian
"[Helps you] navigate the world with heightened awareness for how we're always being influenced/manipulated." - Alexis Ohanian
- Guy Kawasaki
"The guiding light for how I conduct business—and in many ways how I live my life." - Guy Kawasaki
- Max Levchin
One of Max Levchin's answers to "what's your favourite business book you'd advise to young entrepreneurs?"
- Noah Kagan
"People can be influenced in their behaviors by many different tactics." - Noah Kagan
- Samy Kamkar
"I love it because it was a very systematic and analytical approach to the most common ways that human being have been known to be influenced and persuaded to do something." - Samy Kamkar
- Andrew Wilkinson
"[One of] my most recommended business books." - Andrew Wilkinson
- Neil Strauss
"Understanding these [principles] make all the difference in making the leap from interest to attraction." - Neil Strauss
- Patrick O'Shaughnessy
Patrick O'Shaughnessy recommended this book on a blog post.
- Mark Manson
Mark Manson recommended this book on his website.
- Alex Hormozi
Alex Hormozi recommended this book on Instagram.
- James Clear
"[One of] the 10 best nonfiction books of all-time." - James Clear
- Michael Hyatt
Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.
- Alexis Ohanian
Made to Stick
Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Also recommended by
5 people
Brian Armstrong recommended this bookBrian Armstrong
"How to make your message memorable so it will spread." - Brian Armstrong
Brian Armstrong's recommendation of this book 
Ev Williams recommended this bookEv Williams
On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.
Ev Williams's recommendation of this book 
Andrew Wilkinson recommended this bookAndrew Wilkinson
"Our marketing bible." - Andrew Wilkinson
Andrew Wilkinson's recommendation of this book 
Changpeng Zhao recommended this bookChangpeng Zhao
"Informs a lot of our public outreach in terms of making our services more essential for our users." - Changpeng Zhao
Changpeng Zhao's recommendation of this book 
Sahil Lavingia recommended this bookSahil Lavingia
Sahil Lavingia recommended this book on Notion.
Sahil Lavingia's recommendation of this book
Switch
How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Also recommended by
3 people
Adam Grant recommended this bookAdam Grant
"My all-time favorite book on change." - Adam Grant
Adam Grant's recommendation of this book - Andrew Wilkinson recommended this book
Andrew Wilkinson
"Such a great book." - Andrew Wilkinson
Andrew Wilkinson's recommendation of this book 
Michael Hyatt recommended this bookMichael Hyatt
Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.
Michael Hyatt's recommendation of this book
Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing
How to Change the World
Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas
Mobile for Good
A How-To Fundraising Guide for Nonprofits
Real Impact
The New Economics of Social Change
Relationship Fundraising
A Donor Based Approach to the Business of Raising Money
The War for Fundraising Talent
And How Small Shops Can Win
Sources
- 1
10 Must-Read Books for Fundraisers
advancementform.com
- 2
Articlethe Almost Complete Reading List For Fundraisers
sofii.org
- 3
5 Fundraising Books Everybody Should Read | Human Rights Careers
humanrightscareers.com
- 4
Seven books to read to become a better fundraiser
learning.candid.org
- 5
10 Books to Read to Become a Better Fundraiser
fundraisingip.com
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.
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