2026 · Complete illustrated edition

The Fundraising Myth & Science Series: The Professor’s Slides Edition

The Storytelling Fundraiser · The Epic Fundraiser · The Primal Fundraiser · The Socratic Fundraiser

Russell James III · Published 2026 · ISBN: 979-8-54-715775-2

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Contents

Book I: The Storytelling Fundraiser

  1. IntroductionIntroduction to the Series: The “One Big Thing” in Fundraising
  2. Chapter 1At the Heart of Philanthropy Is Story
  3. Chapter 2Understanding Fundraising Story with a Brain Scanner
  4. Chapter 3Can I See Your Character? When Fundraising Story Is in The Details
  5. Chapter 4Math Problems in Fundraising Story: Motivations and Barriers
  6. Chapter 5Solutions in Fundraising Math: Story First, Math Second
  7. Chapter 6The Secret to Fundraising Math: Gifts of Wealth Not Disposable Income
  8. Chapter 7Subtraction in Fundraising Math: Make Cost Feel Smaller
  9. Chapter 8Advanced Fundraising Math: Multiply the Experience, Divide the Cost
  10. Chapter 9The Psychology of the Massive Donation: Foundations, Funds, Trusts, and Endowments
  11. Chapter 10Using Family Words Not Formal Words in Fundraising Story
  12. Chapter 11Charity Efficiency, Overhead, and Fundraising Story: A Tale of Two Worlds
  13. Chapter 12Restricted Gifts and Fundraising Story: Conflict and Compromise Between Two Worlds
  14. Chapter 13Understanding Fundraising As Story: The Identity-Challenge-Victory Story Cycle
  15. Chapter 14Understanding the Ask As Story: The “Inciting Incident” in Fundraising Story
  16. Chapter 15Putting A Victory in the Fundraising Ask: What Changes If I Give?
  17. Chapter 16Putting A Challenge in the Fundraising Ask: You Want Me To Do What?
  18. Chapter 17Finish The Story or Lose the Donor: Delivering Victory with Impact Reporting

Book II: The Epic Fundraiser

  1. IntroductionIntroduction: What Is Fundraising Selling? The Story That Enhances Identity
  2. Chapter 1The Donor and the Universal Hero Story
  3. Chapter 2The Fundraiser in the Universal Hero Story
  4. Chapter 3Beyond the Donor Hero: Fundraising and Other Archetypal Characters
  5. Chapter 4Women, Wealth, and Reframing the Donor-Hero Story
  6. Chapter 5The Fundraising Curse of the Administrator-Hero Story
  7. Chapter 6The Nonprofit in The Donor’s Hero Story: The Hammer of Thor
  8. Chapter 7Fundraiser Turnover Problems: The Stigmatized Story Character
  9. Chapter 8Fundraiser Turnover Solutions: Transforming the Story Character
  10. Chapter 9Introducing the Epic Fundraiser to the Public: What’s Your Job?
  11. Chapter 10Fundraiser as Sage or Jester? The Counterfeit Guide
  12. Chapter 11The Epic Fundraiser as Translator: Selling to the Internal Organization
  13. Chapter 12Organizational Solutions to Fundraising with Rival Hero Stories
  14. Chapter 13Making The Perfect Fundraising Ask: Lessons from Obi-Wan, Gandalf, and Morpheus
  15. Chapter 14Confirming Donor Heroism with Gratitude: The Return of the Hero
  16. Chapter 15Donor Publicity and Donor Hesitancy: The Hero’s Initial Refusal to Return
  17. Chapter 16Why Story? The Narrative Arc in Practical Fundraising
  18. Chapter 17Story Problems with Fundraising Metrics: UR Doing It Wrong
  19. Chapter 18Story Solutions with Fundraising Metrics: Advancing the Right Story for the Right Donors

Book III: The Primal Fundraiser

  1. IntroductionIntroduction: The Matryoshka Doll
  2. Chapter 1Primal Fundraising and Subjective Similarity: I’m Like Them!
  3. Chapter 2Primal Fundraising and Reciprocal Alliances: I’m With Them!
  4. Chapter 3Primal Fundraising and Capacity for Reciprocity: I’m With Them Because They’re Important to Me!
  5. Chapter 4Relationship Is The Foundation of Primal Fundraising: I’m with Them Because We’re Partners!
  6. Chapter 5Primal Fundraising Leads with a Gift: I’m with Them Because I’m Important to Them!
  7. Chapter 6Impact, Gratitude, and Reciprocity in Primal Fundraising: I Can Make A Difference!
  8. Chapter 7Heroic Donation Displays in Primal Fundraising: I Can Be Your Hero, Baby!
  9. Chapter 8The Heroic Donation Audience in Primal Fundraising: I Need A Hero!
  10. Chapter 9Primal Fundraising Delivers Practical Value with External Identity: This Is Totally Worth It!
  11. Chapter 10The Power of Community in Primal Fundraising: I’m Not Just Giving, I’m Sharing!
  12. Chapter 11Social Norms in Primal Fundraising: People Like Me Make Gifts Like This!
  13. Chapter 12Delivering Transcendent Value in Primal Fundraising: I Believe in This!

Book IV: The Socratic Fundraiser

  1. IntroductionIntroduction: The Return of the Hero
  2. Chapter 1Socratic Fundraising Theory: How Questions Advance the Donor’s Story
  3. Chapter 2Socratic Fundraising Overview: A Step-By-Step Menu of Questions
  4. Chapter 3Socratic Fundraising Permission: Can I Ask You A Question?
  5. Chapter 4Socratic Fundraising Backstory: Questions that Connect with The Donor’s Identity
  6. Chapter 5Socratic Fundraising Foreshadowing: Questions that Uncover a Meaningful Victory
  7. Chapter 6Socratic Fundraising Setting: Is This The Land of Wealth Sharing?
  8. Chapter 7Socratic Fundraising Wealth Scripts: Questions That Lead to Gifts of Assets
  9. Chapter 8Asking to Ask in Socratic Fundraising: Can I Show You Some Options?
  10. Chapter 9Socratic Fundraising’s “Call to Adventure”: Making a Compelling Ask
  11. Chapter 10Socratic Fundraising After the Ask: Congratulations! You Got a “No.”
  12. Chapter 11Socratic Fundraising “Legacy Edition”: How to Ask for the Gift in a Will without Fear or Anxiety
  13. Chapter 12Socratic Fundraising in Bulk: Donor Surveys That Work

Additional reading

  1. Cited and Recommended Books for Fundraisers
  2. About the Author