I’ve written a book.

For most of my working life as a fundraiser I’ve carried a question I couldn’t answer. Why does the money a charity puts into shares and bonds get five years of history, forecasts and a named manager, while the money that pays for everything else gets a budget line, a ratio and an annual argument?

I’ve watched brilliant fundraisers go three times harder just to stand still. Then they get blamed when the target (which had only gone up with inflation, mind) is missed. That was never a people problem. It was a system nobody had ever consciously designed.

So this is the case I couldn’t make back then. It’s for fundraising directors… and for the finance director you’ll want to hand it to straight afterwards.

It’s not out yet, and no, I’m not giving you a date. I’ve seen enough forecasts turn into theatre to know better.

If you want to be the first to hear more, join the Fundraiser In The Room newsletter.