21 Indispensable Books

~ from Cassandra Nudel

In my personal opinion, these 21 books are the most essential, exquisite, and fabulously indispensable books on building and strengthening a peer-run program (or, any social justice program, or, for that matter, any program of any kind).

When I buy books, I try to buy from a small press or independent local book-store. I also check www.amazon.com, which often has used books listed at much cheaper prices. Happy reading…

The Best of the Board Café
A favorite pick at the CO-OP retreat, we often hear people talking about and requesting this book. In past years, we’ve given a copy to every VOCAL board member, and we use it ourselves all the time. This complete guide offers a menu of ideas, information, news, templates and resources for nonprofit boards.

Great Meetings! Great Results!
Super user-friendly. This book is filled with easy-to-understand and easy-to-use exercises and activities to add instant spark to your planning meeting. A practical guide for making all meetings more productive, efficient and creative.

Grant Writing for Dummies
Here’s the book I used to learn grant writing. This book is really helpful for its focus on how to write a really strong proposal. It is a good resource for writing for any type of funder (including government grants). Step-by-step guide to getting the money you need for your program. Easy-to-use format, thorough approach, and clear and experienced advice
 

Demystifying Grant Seeking
We gave out some copies of this at a recent CO-OP event, and got fabulous feedback. People really read it and really loved it. A nuts-and-bolts book covering all the details of effective grant seeking. Filled with exercises that will help you learn a new way of operating so you can seek grants with efficiency and integrity.

Grassroots Grants
This book seems to be loved and admired by grassroots groups everywhere. Describes just what it takes to win grants, including how grants fit into your complete fundraising program, using your grant proposal as an organizing plan, designing fundable projects, building your proposal piece by piece, and more.

The Nonprofit Membership Toolkit
A fabulous find. Includes absolutely everything about building and growing your membership, shows how to create, manage, and sustain a dynamic membership program that will help a social change organization thrive. How to involve the community, and diversify & strengthen your funding base.

Organizing for Social Change
The must-have book for groups working on creating social change, published by the Midwest Academy, who have trained more than 20,000 grassroots activists. An ideal workbook for social movement groups for over a decade. “An indispensable toolkit for mobilizing your community at local, state, and national levels.”
 

The Mediator’s Handbook
I am not a mediator, but I’ve met some people that are, and they love this book. A resource for people working in any situation where there is a need to build bridges between diverse perspectives.

SPIN Works
Activist-friendly media guidebook. Full of tips, tactics and strategies that empower advocates with a vast array of skills for shaping public opinion on their issues through the press.

Facilitator's Guide to
Participatory Decision-Making
The people I’ve met who really know about and really care about facilitation, say this is the most important book out there. Encourage full participation, promote mutual understanding, and help build inclusive, sustainable agreements.

The Zen of Groups
A little treasure. Become a more effective group member and stimulate your meetings with energy needed for achieving your goals. Includes techniques for generating ideas, defining priorities, creative thinking, expressing feelings, energizing the group, team building, and more.

Nonprofit Kit for Dummies
Thorough and covers all the basics of running a nonprofit. Includes templates and tools you can use in your program. Includes advice on everything from incorporating and managing your nonprofit to tactics for raising money & managing public relations.

The Non-Designer's Design Book
Improve your design skills by 100% in just a few hours. Really, it works. Instantly improve your program’s fliers, website, brochure, and outreach materials. Follow the clearly explained concepts, and you'll begin producing more sophisticated, professional, and interesting pages immediately.

Retreats That Work
Buried treasure. It seems like few people have ever heard of this book. I was thrilled to discover it. Filled to the brim with hundreds of great ideas and activities for board retreats, planning retreats, strategic planning, group visioning, and organizational development. Guides you step-by-step through the process of set-ting up and running a great retreat.

In the Tiger’s Mouth
Hard to find, but so worth it. This book is called “an empowerment guide to social action.” Wonderful activities full of spirit and reflection, to share with your group. Resources for social change; tools for effectiveness; preventing burn-out; practical help. (You can buy it used on www.Amazon.com )

No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a Civil Rights Movement
What can I say? This book changed my life. A vibrant and compelling account. Over the last 30 years, disabled Americans have fought for freedom from the discrimination and oppression of medical, psychological, and bureaucratic establishments.
 

Fundraising for Social Change
Recommended to us by the Virginia Organizing Project, we think this is the best fundraising book out there. Strategies for grassroots organizations to establish and expand successful community-based fundraising programs.

Financial Leadership
for Nonprofit Executives
Recommended as a top pick by our Program Director, Brian Parrish. The best book we have found on financial management. Gives the framework, specific language, and processes to lead with confidence. It shows how to protect and grow the assets of an organization and accomplish as much mission as possible with your resources.

Small Time Operator
Also recommended as a top pick by Brian. Written for small businesses, self-employed individuals, employers, professionals, independent contractors, home businesses, and Internet businesses, Small Time Operator is the most popular business start-up guide ever.

On Our Own
Judi Chamberlin's story. This book is considered one of the most important books in starting the consumer movement. It was out of print for some years, and is now back. Order this book at the National Empowerment Center Website www.power2u.org 

On Our Own, Together
Peer-run mental health programs – accounts by the people who developed them and who live them every day.

Got another book? If you know another nonprofit book that you personally love and would like to recommend to peer-run programs, we'd love to hear about it. Send the title plus a short description of why you like this book to Cassandra@vocalvirginia.org