How I Raised a Million in a Month

By Barbara Ann Murray
Nonfiction
174 pages
ISBN #1-877673-66-8

After working as a high school teacher and counselor, author Barbara Ann Murray switched careers to become the executive director of a hospital foundation. Eager to tackle the challenge of her new role, Murray amassed a wealth of knowledge as the foundation’s chief fundraiser for 10 years. She graciously offers that wisdom to readers in How I Raised a Million in a Month, published by Cottonwood Press.

Beginning each chapter with a profound quote by well-known figures like Helen Keller, Oliver Wendell Holmes and William Shakespeare, Murray wastes no time in sharing her fundraising success secrets, clearly pointing out what works and what doesn’t. She offers honest accounts of mistakes she made and how she learned from them, including the time she treated a potential donor to an expensive lunch. The donor, offended by the luncheon’s expense, would have preferred a chocolate shake and fries. To correct the faux pas, a humbled Murray arrived on the donor’s doorstep later that day with a milkshake, French fries, and an apology. Murray shares interesting examples and anecdotes like this throughout the book.

Of particular interest are Murray’s chapter summaries which include "Tips for Success" and her "10 Tips for Becoming a Successful Fundraiser" at the end of the book. Sharing nuggets of wisdom from her fundraising career, these ideas can be immediately applied to almost any fundraising situation.

Murray concludes the book with her extraordinary work during her final month as the foundation’s executive director, raising $1 million to sustain the foundation until a replacement could be found and fundraising could begin anew. Miraculously, utilizing resources and techniques she’d acquired over the last 10 years, Murray raised her $1 million goal in less than 30 days, leaving the foundation knowing that she had done her job and done it well.

How I Raised a Million in a Month is well written, interesting, easy to read and understand and flows well, keeping the reader interested from the first page to the last. Murray’s advice is well meaning, and easily applied and implemented. How I Raised a Million in a Month should be on the "must read" list for anyone involved in fundraising work.

The book is available for purchase through Cottonwood Press.