Book Description
For busy fundraisers, writing letters of appeal can be confusing and laborious. Now, a guide from the nation's premier letter-writing tutor--direct mail expert Mal Warwick--shows fundraisers what makes the best letters work. Whether its general advice about the most effective mail strategies, or specific advice for those interested in the details of a direct mail campaign, Warwick keeps fundraisers on track when he reminds: "You're writing for results--not a Pulitzer Prize."
In How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters, Warwick's step-by-step model for writing a successful appeal walks you through the critical stages; his topics range from laying the groundwork for a prosperous campaign all the way through to the importance of thanking donors. Supported by an extensive collection of model letters, Warwick's no-nonsense, jargon-free work has helped thousands of fundraisers achieve results.
Read a review written by Charity Channel Founder/CEO Stephen C. Nill:
http://charitychannel.com/publish/templates/?a=471&z=25
Customer Reviews:
You must buy this book.......2007-05-10
If you ever think you will have to write a fundraising letter, you NEED this book. Too many people think it is just like writing any other kind of letter but it isn't. There is a rhyme and, more importantly, a reason to it. Don't write a fundraising letter without reading this book first.
How To Write a Successful Fund Raising Letter.......2007-05-07
Excellent for a review of those with experience and super for those new at the experience. We have used it for both occasions
Disappointed.......2007-01-17
I am not an expert in writing fundraising letters. So, when I found a book with a title "How to write successful Fundraising Letters" it was as if I had won the lottery. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it because I was on a dealine to write a fundraising letter for a non-profit organization for which I had volunteered. I ordered the book, and paid just as much to have it deleivered the next day (local bookstores do not carry it). I found the book to be a tutorial and not something I could quickly benefit from. It is written to teach how to properly write and follow-up a fundraising campaign letter. The samples provided were very specific to 3-4 scenarios and did not offer much context. I guess I was looking for a book with hundreds of samples so that I could pick and choose phrases, paragraphs, etc.
Success at Last.......2007-01-11
I have toyed around with various funderaising letters over the years, reinventing the wheel each time. This book is a tremendous guideline for writing great fundraising letters and has many great examples.
I was able to raise over $100,000.00 in a recent campaign and for the first time I have had a number of people comment on how well the letter appealed to them, and how well it was written. I keep this book close at hand.
Development officer.......2006-11-06
have read part of it not all---so far it is good and helpful
Book Description
"This book is highly recommended for development professionals, as well as board members and administrators who believe that a few million can easily be raised by development personnel in their spare time."--National Society of Fund Raising Executives Journal on the 1st edition
Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign has been the definitive resource on capital campaigns for a decade. Now, in the long-awaited second edition of the best-selling guide, Kent Dove offers an updated and expanded blueprint for planning and managing a successful capital campaign. He not only gives authoritative guidance to every aspect of a capital campaign but also provides new discussions on such important topics as linking strategic planning to fundraising, conducting external market surveys, defining leadership roles, establishing a campaign and solicitation process, and more. Other enhancements include:
- A dramatically expanded resource section that includes samples of a strategic plan, market surveys, case statements, financial reports, pledge forms, newsletters, program brochures, a complete volunteer kit, and a post-campaign evaluation
- New chapters on technology in fundraising, leadership gifts, and developing lasting relationships with donors
- Updated examples and real-world lessons from diverse organizations that have conducted their own capital campaigns
- The Dove Preparedness Index (DPI), a unique measurement tool that helps organizations simply and accurately assess their readiness to embark on a capital campaign
- The new Continuous Lifetime Giving Program Model, including an analytical and segmented marketing approach to its implementation
- A modernized version of the 80/20 rule, addressing the size and number of gifts that are needed to conduct a successful capital campaign
Packed with checklists, formulas, and tables, Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign is sure to make difference in your capital campaign.
Customer Reviews:
Solid Basics, a must for any Board.......2007-08-09
This book provides the fundamental outline to a successful Capital Campaign. It is not a how-to and will clearly state that a seasoned professional consultant should still be considered a vital part of any effort. But, short of that, any Board of Directors should have this book as a guide to understanding the depth of their own responsibilities, how to manage a consultant, the seriousness of the effort and planning ongoing giving programs. I did not give it a 5 only because it does not spell out oversite structures for committees. William
A must have resource for a Capital Campaign.......2007-03-21
I had a copy of the first edition of this excellent book but when I enbarked on a new Capital Campaign I bought the new edition. It is a book which anyone - experience and otherwise - must have if you have to venture into capital campaigning.
Even if you been there and done that, it is excellent as a check to see if you're on track.
The updated version has looked at Capital Campaigns in the light of the changing world of philanthrophy.
In Australia, our Capital Camapigns may not be as large as some in USA but never the less are run in just the same way.
A must have reference and the best one out there as far as I'm concerned.
Capital Campaign bible..........2006-09-21
Kent Dove's book is the bible for how to do capital fund raising. I have been asked as a development officer and consultant to do it other ways, and his is the ONLY way that works. I'm buying the updated book with joy that it has been published.
The Best Guide for Plannind Major Gift Campaigns.......2005-07-21
In the short time I've had this book, I've used it extensivly to plan a forthcoming $25 million campaign in a college within a university. After 15 years of experience in major gift fund raising, I've finally found the book that includes ALMOST everything we need to launch a very successful effort. I deeply appreciate Mr. Dove's efforts to update his work and provide this useful guide.
Useful but disappointing.......2002-11-30
Although there is useful information in this book, I found it disappointing compared with the recommendations that I read.
Part 1, which is about 200 pages, is the text of the book and covers planning and implementing your campaign. Part 2 which is about 300 pages is a collection of about 35 sample documents.
I found the text, which included chapters by other authors, rambling and verbose, giving lists of functions and lists of alternatives without reaching conclusions. I skimmed this part and found little worth reading carefully. (In contrast, I just read Tony Poderis concise and excellent "Its A Great Day to Fundraise" from cover to cover.) The author attempts an academic approach, with unhelpful citations. Examples of somewhat useful items were an outline of a case statement and examples of gift charts.
Particularly weak was a chapter entitled "Technology in Fundraising" which claimed that it was about the single most important support factor in fundraising. We learn that we need a broad team to select this technology; that we need to attend user groups of the system we are considering; that we need to meet current users; that we need to test the system at our site; that the system should be easy to support; that to install the system we need leadership, time, funding, involvement, communication, expertise, testing, training, defined reports, standards, process, etc.; and on and on and on with more generalities. We are NOT told what it is reasonable to expect such a system to do, what features have proved useful, or any other specific information that someone who had actually used such a system might provided.
The sample documents, which were largely from an Indiana University campaign, struck me as examples that I would not want to follow, although I found some useful items.
Book Description
In finance, it's all about smart decisions. ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE closely follows the life-cycle of a financial firm and shows you sound financial management practices that will enable you to run and grow your business venture. By introducing the theories, knowledge, and financial tools needed by an entrepreneur in starting his or her own business, ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE gives you the information you need to succeed. And because it's easy to understand and full of study tools, with ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE you'll succeed in class as well.
Customer Reviews:
Vague, Poor Learning Tool.......2006-12-05
As an senior undergraduate in entrepreneurship and finance, I expected this text to really explore the basic concepts of entrepreneurial finance, however, it has only led to many frustrating hours of reading and re-reading sections, only to return to class as confused as when I left two days prior. Definitions are unclear, if provided at all. The cases are often excessive and complicated, and overshadow the true learning outcomes of the case study. The text makes far too many assumptions, so if you are looking for an introduction to entrepreneurial finance, which this book claims to be, look elsewhere.
Entrepreneurial Finance.......2006-11-04
It had good information, but some of the concepts weren't thoroughly explained. The terminology used isn't consistent with accounting terminology, so it makes it difficult to keep things straight (considering both finance and accounting cover a lot of the same ground for similar reasons). It's definitely more appropriate for more advanced levels of finance, but not so much for a finance introduction.
Silicon Valley Finance primer.......2006-09-04
If you are involved in a high-tech startup or you want to run the financial side of such an operation then this easy-to-read textbook makes that job much easier. It is not a regular finance textbook which is designed for firms in which intellectual property is not the prime ingredient. It is for people who need to deal with venture capitalists or screen high-tech startups for financing.
The participants on both sides of high-tech finance, those who start companies and those who would like to fund them need to know how financial projections and valuations should be done and how they should be evaluated. For those who would like to learn how Silicon Valley's real main industry of starting companies happens this is an extremely valuable book to have.
This text still needs to have a bibliography to point readers to some of the specialized texts needed to deal with writing the business plan, intellectual property law and general legal issues. A lot of very usefull ideas are held by people who don't know how to start companies to bring those ideas to market.
Book not very helpful.......2003-10-08
I'm amazed that this book is for MBA level students! I am currently an undergraduate student and have the opportunity to use this textbook for a finance class and find this book very vague on termology and not very helpful when it comes to difficult concepts. Anyone with basic knowledge of business can understand the book so that's why it amazes me that this book is used for MBA's!
Book Description
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: The Basics of Risk Management This chapter introduces how banks work. It describes how they make money, how they often lose money, and how they try to manage their losses. It includes thirteen short case studies showing how banks have lost money.
Chapter 2: Risk Measurement at the Corporate Level: Economic Capital and RAROC Chapter Two discusses the meaning of capital and how the risks that a bank faces are related to the amount of capital that the bank should hold. It then describes the two fundamental building blocks of integrated risk measurement: Economic Capital and Risk Adjusted Return on Capital (RAROC).
Chapter 3: Review of Statistics Chapter Three is useful for those readers who do not have a recent working knowledge of statistics. It reviews the statistical relationships that are commonly used in risk measurement and provides reference material for the rest of the book. Examples are provided using financial loss data.
MARKET RISK SECTION
Chapter 4: Background on Traded Instruments This chapter gives an overview of the main types of traded instruments: bonds, equities and derivatives. It gives a qualitative description of the instrument, examples of calculating the instrument’s value and the basic risk metrics such as duration and the Greeks. This chapter is useful for those readers who are new to the finance industry.
Chapter 5: Market Risk Measurement This chapter describes the most common ways to measure market risks: Sensitivity analysis, Stress testing, Scenario testing, Sharpe Ratio and Value at Risk. It gives detailed examples of using each of the metrics.
Chapter 6: The Three Common Approaches for Calculating Value at Risk Value at Risk (VaR) has become the standard approach for measuring market risk. This chapter is devoted to explaining the details of the three common approaches to calculating VaR: Parametric VaR, Historical VaR and Monte Carlo VaR. We work though increasingly complex examples and compare the strengths of each approach. (Note: many readers will be particularly interested in this chapter because the name “VaR” is well known and has a certain mystery)
Chapter 7: Value at Risk Contribution The Value at Risk Contribution (VaRC) is a useful way of pinpointing the source of the portfolio’s risk. VaRC can break down the risk by instrument, trading desk or market risk factor. Examples are given for several types of VaRC.
Chapter 8: Testing VaR Results to Ensure Proper Risk Measurement This chapter discusses the procedures required by regulators to backtest VaR calculators to check that their predictions of losses are consistent with market events.
Chapter 9: Calculating Capital for Market Risk VaR is used as the basis for calculating both Regulatory Capital and Economic Capital for Market Risks. In this chapter VaR also extended to measure the risk of Asset Management operations.
Chapter 10: Overcoming VaR Limitations Although VaR is the best single metric for market risks, is has several limitations. The limitations and typical solutions are discussed in this chapter.
Chapter 11: The Management of Market Risk This chapter concludes the market risk section by describing how the results of risk measurement are used by management to identify the sources of risk. It also describes the process of setting VaR Limits. (Note: readers should be particularly interested in VaR Limits because it is difficult and an important element in controlling a bank’s risk).
ASSET/LIABILITY MANGEMENT SECTION
Chapter 12: Introduction to Asset Liability Management Asset Liability Management (ALM) is primarily concerned with the interest rate and liquidity risks that are created when commercial banks take in short term deposits from customers and give out long term loans. This chapter describes how those risks arise and the risk characteristics of different types of deposits and loans.
Chapter 13: Measurement of Interest Rate Risk for ALM This chapter discussed the primary techniques used to measure interest rate risk: Gap reports, Rate shift scenarios and Simulations
Chapter 14: Funding Liquidity Risk in ALM The measurement of liquidity risk is broken into three groups: expected, unusual and crisis events. Measurement techniques are given for each group.
Chapter 15: Funds Transfer Pricing and the Management of ALM Risks A key use of asset/liability measurement is the calculation of the fair price at which funds should be lent from one department to another within a bank. This is one of the keys to integrated risk measurement and is a critical component in measuring risk-adjusted profitability and setting prices to customers. A typical balance sheet is used to illustrate how transfer pricing works in detail.
CREDIT RISK SECTION
Chapter 16: Introduction to Credit Risk This chapter discusses the sources of credit risk and how measurement is used to manage the risks
Chapter 17: Types of Credit Structure For readers who are unfamiliar with lending operations, we discuss the ways that credit exposures are structured in commercial and retail lending. It also describes the calculation of credit exposure for derivatives trading operations and gives an overview of credit derivatives.
Chapter 18: Risk Measurement for a Single Facility This chapter shows how the Expected Loss and Unexpected Loss for a loan can be calculated from the Probability of Default, Loss In the Event of Default, Exposure at Default and the Grade Migration Matrix.
Chapter 19: Estimating Parameter Values for Single Facilities One of the main difficulties in credit risk measurement is the estimation of values for Probability of Default, Loss Given Default and Exposure at Default. This chapter discusses estimation techniques such as Discriminant Analysis and the Merton Model. It also gives parameter values that can be used as the basis for the reader’s own models. The parameter values are used in examples to demonstrate how the credit risk calculations are used.
Chapter 20: Risk Measurement For A Credit Portfolio: Part One To estimate the overall risk for a portfolio many credit instruments, we must examine the correlation between losses. This chapter describes the Covariance Credit Portfolio Model and the different approaches available for estimating default correlations. It also describes how the correlations can be used to estimate the Unexpected Loss Contribution and the Economic Capital for a single facility within a portfolio.
Chapter 21: Risk Measurement For A Credit Portfolio: Part Two This chapter describes the four other widely used approaches for estimating the risk of credit portfolios: the actuarial model, the Merton-based simulation model, the macro economic default model and the macro economic cashflow model used for structured and project finance. It concludes with a section describing how the models can be combined in a unified framework to create an integrated simulation of all the bank’s risks
Chapter 22: Risk Adjusted Performance and Pricing for Loans Knowing the economic capital for a loan, this chapter shows how to calculate the minimum price that should be charged to a loan customer. The analysis shows how to include multi-year effects such as grade migration. Illustrative examples are included. (Note: this chapter should be of interest to readers because loan pricing is another difficult and important subject that is rarely discussed in other books)
Chapter 23: Regulatory Capital for Credit Risk The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (often called the BIS) is planning fundamental changes to the way that banks must calculate the capital that they hold. The new calculations will be very similar to the calculations described in the rest of this book for economic capital. This chapter summarizes the history of the Capital Accords then compares the different approaches that the BIS will allow. It also gives a standard plan for implementing the new Accords. (Note: this should be of interest to readers because the shift to BIS measurement is of major importance, it will be difficult for most banks, and it must be completed by 2005)
OPERATING RISK SECTION
Chapter 24: Operating risk The quantification of Operating Risks is on the frontier of the industry’s understanding of risk measurement. The risk estimation approaches can be categorized as either qualitative, structural or actuarial. These approaches are described including Key Risk Indicators and the BIS approaches.
INTEGRATED RISK SECTION
Chapter 25: Inter-risk Diversification and Bank-Level RAROC This chapter describes how all the models are linked to calculate Economic Capital and Risk Adjusted Profitability for the Bank as a whole. It concludes with of the steps normally required to implement the bank-wide measurement of Economic Capital and RAROC.pital and RAROC.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent overview of bank risk management.......2005-10-21
I really can't say enough about this book. From the perspective of a banker who wants to understand the fundamentals it is comprehensive, well organized and presented in a style that makes understanding the materials easy (or as easy as can be expected given the topic).
I recently took a copy to an Fx class I presented to the central bank staff in Azerbaijan. They liked the book so much that I was forced (not literally - maybe 'encouraged' would be a better word) to leave my copy behind. I promptly ordered another on my return.
While there are certainly more advanced texts on this same topic, I have yet to see one that does a better job of communicating the core concepts.
Great job!
Nice Overview.......2004-08-30
It was a nice overview of some existing models but it lacked the drill down needed for the next step. I did not find that it allowed you to handle actual data.
Fantastic book.......2003-05-23
Moving from academia to the real world is made much smoother with this great text by Dr. Marrison. This book integrates interest rate, liquidity and credit risk with bank management perfectly. Anyone interested in gaining a strong economic background with a quantitative degree like myself will find this book extremely useful.
One of the Best Books for Risk Management.......2002-10-23
Marrison has written an outstanding book on risk management. What is attractive about the treatment is the fact that it covers all aspects of risk management for financial institutions. Lots of books focus only on "new" techniques (VaR, portfolio credit risk models) or only on "traditional" techniques (credit analysis, ALM). Marrison treats them all, and uses capital allocation as a unifying theme.
Two previous reviews that suggest Marrison is too basic or merely repeats other authors are, in my humble opinion, dishonest. Marrison is a sophisticated book for sophisticated readers who are new to risk management. This includes MBA students taking courses on the capital markets or risk management. It also includes professionals working in their first risk management position. Marrison did not invent VaR or ALM, but authors of other books did not invent these concepts either. An author's task is to describe established concepts in a manner that is accessible to and useful for his audience. In this respect, Marrison's book is a dramatic step forward. His choice of topics, organization and writing are superb.
One of those previous reviews recommended that you read books by certain other authors instead of Marrison. Of those books, the only one that Marrison competes with is Jorion's Value-at-Risk. Marrison is an order of magnitude better than that book. The other books cover unrelated topics or are more advanced treatises on specific topics. You might graduate to such books from Marrison, but they are not alternatives to Marrison.
Finally, you can't beat the price on this book. Marrison simultaneously offers a bargain AND one of the best books available on risk management.
A great primer.......2002-09-11
Chris Marrison's book is something I have been seeking for a very long time. It is well organized and easy to read. I have spent several years in strategic financial services consulting, wherein a strong foundation in risk measurement concepts and tools is essential for consultants across experience levels. Though having studied undergraduate finance and statistics, I ended up developing my rudimentary (and incomplete) knowledge of risk measurement in a very ad-hoc, context-specific and inefficent fashion. Now an MBA student at Harvard, I come across peers also seeking to understand the business, technical and practical aspects of risk measurement, as conceptually, 'risk management' is a common idea but an abstract practice for many professionals. There is no other textbook I've come across that addresses the essentials of risk measurement in as tangible a manner. I will not hesitate to recommend this book as a great primer to fellow students. The only caveat I offer is that this book is for those truly interested in jumping into the practical applications of risk measurement - for more of an overview of risk management theory, or esoterica for that matter, you're better off looking elsewhere.
Book Description
Your guardian angel has arrived
Capital is the single most important factor to getting your venture off the ground, but finding it can be a challenge, particularly if you're running out of funding options. Suppose your venture is too small for institutional players. What do you do once you've exhausted your personal financial resources? Where do you go after banks, the leasing companies, the venture capital firms, have turned you down? What you need is an "angel"--a private investor with high net worth. Angel Financing--the only book of its kind--provides you with a road map to this valuable, little known, source of capital financing.
Explains the structure of the direct private capital market
* Covers everything from the valuation process to writing an investor-oriented business plan
Gerald A. Benjamin (Sausalito, CA) is a Senior Managing Partner of International Capital Resources (ICR), an investment banking, corporate finance, and capital sourcing firm. He is also publisher of the California Investment Review. Joel Margulis (Mill Valley, CA) is a freelance writer who has published books and articles on a range of business and finance topics.
Customer Reviews:
Solid Information on Raising Capital.......2005-04-16
This book by Gerald Benjamin contains solid information on raising capital for new ventures and young companies. It's a keeper. As someone who has worked on many, many capital raising projects for new emerging growth businesses, I would personally advise you to get this book. The advice is priceless! -- Principal of a Venture Financing Firm
Great Book For Entrepreneurs And Investors.......2003-01-04
I think anyone interested in investing in private companies or anyone who wants to understand the process of angel investing should read "Angel Financing"
Many wealthy investors are turning to financing small businesses due to the huge potential return. Benjamin and Margulis tell us that the angel investor who put $100,000 into Ciena Corporation saw the value of his investment grow into $285 million in three years, when the company went public. Further, knowledgeable business people can enhance the value of their angel investments through their experience, knowledge, and contacts. Unless you're extremely wealthy, this ability to add value to your investments isn't available when you invest in large publicly-traded companies.
Angel investing isn't for everyone. Benjamin and Margulis say angel investors expect about one-third of their investments to fail completely. Further, many bad deals out there must be avoided. So, anyone considering angel investing should have business experience. And, there must be good chemistry between the investor and the entrepreneur.
To help new investors ask the right questions and avoid bad investments, Benjamin and Margulis provide a detailed due diligence questionnaire which will help investors understand what questions they should ask before making an angel investment.
"Angel Financing" is also a good book for entrepreneurs seeking angel financing. It helps entrepreneurs answer the questions: "Is my company financeable? Am I financeable?" And, "Angel Financing" helps entrepreneurs understand the private equity market.
We learn that the average angel investor is 48-59 years old, has a postgraduate degree, has management experience, and, typically, invests between $25,000 and $250,000 per deal. Many angel investors are self-made millionaires with a net worth between $1 million and $10 million dollars. Eighty percent of angels have previously started a company and have small business experience.
Benjamin and Margulis tell us that seeking private investments from people with a net worth below $1 million, or an annual income below $200,000, isn't usually desirable. These people do not possess the discretionary income to make angel investments and are usually not classified as accredited investors. This could create legal problems for the entrepreneur if the investment fails.
Benjamin and Margulis point out that many of the wealthiest families and individuals have their wealth managed by conservative trusts or professional advisors. So, seeking an angel investment from an ultra-rich person may not prove successful, because the trust administrator often kills the deal because of the high risk involved.
Because angel investors don't need to invest, Benjamin and Margulis tell entrepreneurs to be flexible in structuring the deal to meet the investor's needs. Many entrepreneurs do not listen adequately to what potential investors are telling them.
"Angel Financing" contains a good appendix about private placements, discussing such things as exemptions from full securities registration under Rule 504, 505, and 506, although much of this information is also available free from the SEC.
Benjamin and Margulis say that entrepreneurs should expect to budget about 10% to 15% of the amount to be raised as fundraising expenses. We learn that costs of a SCOR offering average about $30,000 nationwide. (SCOR, Small Corporate Offering Registration, allows companies to raise up to $1 million and is highly state-specific. Some states encourage SCOR while other states are more hostile to it.)
Overall, "Angel Financing" is an excellent book for entrepreneurs and angel investors.
Peter Hupalo, Author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur"
Get it Right the First Time (do your homework too).......2002-03-03
There are many books in the marketplace that target different types of entrepreneurs with different types of approaches. Respectively, none of them work unless you are starting a mom-and-pop business. Believe me, I've gone through most of them! I have found that they are either based on a mom-and-pop "boilerplate business plan" start-up model or based from outer space, with grand delusions of fantasy by thinking that the start-up will rivet the attention of a venture capital firm or an investment banker. Forget it, those days are gone.
If you are serious about finding and raising private equity for your start-up company, this book will give you plenty of facts, stories and anecdotes. Angel Financing will also give you the methods and processes to get it done properly.
Promote your idea into a practical one. This book is pure common sense. Write a business plan to attract financing. The blueprint for operating your company is the next step. Look around and discover that Gerald Benjamin is a pioneer in this field and his views about how to raise private equity is gaining a foothold and turning heads. Recently, I attended one of his seminars and the people sitting next to me were simply top-caliber entrepreneurs.
There are very few companies that will ever make it to the public equity markets. For example, many large companies such as SAIC (headquartered in San Diego) are employee-owned. Just look at the facts presented in his book and reconsider your options, especially if you would like to retain control of your start-up.
I have one suggestion. Carefully review the how-to-do a business plan material out there. Make sure it is suitable for what you are doing, or you are going to go through many sleepless nights like I did. Read this book, prepare a Business Plan for investors, put together a PowerPoint presentation and "walk the talk."
Good luck!
Get it Right the First Time (do your homework too).......2002-03-03
There are many books in the marketplace that target different types of entrepreneurs with different types of approaches. Respectively, none of them work unless you are starting a mom-and-pop business. Believe me, I've gone through most of them! I have found that they are either based on a fandango "boilerplate business plan" model or written by beings from outer space, with grand delusions that your idea will rivet the attention of a venture capital firm or an investment banker. Forget it, those days are gone.
If you are serious about finding and raising private equity for your start-up company, this book will give you plenty of facts, stories and anecdotes. Angel Financing will also give you the methods and processes to get it done properly.
Promote your idea into a practical one. This book is pure common sense. Write a business plan to attract financing. The blueprint for operating your company is the next step. Look around and discover that Gerald Benjamin is a pioneer in this field and his views about how to raise private equity is gaining a foothold and turning heads. Recently, I attended one of his seminars and the people sitting next to me were simply top-caliber entrepreneurs.
There are very few companies that will ever make it to the public equity markets. For example, many large companies such as SAIC (headquartered in San Diego) are employee-owned. Just look at the facts presented in his book and reconsider your options, especially if you would like to retain control of your start-up.
There is one suggestion. Carefully review all the how-to-do a business plan material out there. Make sure it is suitable for your exact needs
Good luck!
Long winded, but worth a good skim.......2000-09-01
This book could easily have been cut by 100 pages or more without losing any information. The author says the same thing over and over and over and over again, almost as if he was being paid by the page (or trying to justify the high price with a thicker book). I did learn from it, but was annoyed skimming entire sections to simply reread what he's already said five times.
Book Description
"Aswath Damodaran is simply the best valuation teacher around. If you are interested in the theory or practice of valuation, you should have Damodaran on Valuation on your bookshelf. You can bet that I do."
-- Michael J. Mauboussin, Chief Investment Strategist, Legg Mason Capital Management and author of More Than You Know: Finding Financial Wisdom in Unconventional Places
In order to be a successful CEO, corporate strategist, or analyst, understanding the valuation process is a necessity. The second edition of
Damodaran on Valuation stands out as the most reliable book for answering many of todays critical valuation questions. Completely revised and updated, this edition is the ideal book on valuation for CEOs and corporate strategists. You'll gain an understanding of the vitality of todays valuation models and develop the acumen needed for the most complex and subtle valuation scenarios you will face.
Customer Reviews:
Very good and very useful book.......2007-09-03
Very useful book for every Investment analyst.
Special credits to Amazon for their perfect shipping - 10 days from order to delivery in BG with standard shipping option!!!
The best valuation book there is.......2007-05-19
This book is for individuals that are serious about valuation. Professor Damodaran provides a clear framework regarding key issues that need to be addressed during company valuation.
This is a must read.
Book Description
A good fundraising plan can make a vital difference in the quality of a nonprofit organization's programs and services. It can be the map by which the organization charts and secures its future. This step-by-step guide is designed to help you and your organization construct an operational fundraising plan that is appropriate to your specific funding needs. From meeting deadlines and scheduling special events to creating an overall plan for fundraising activities, The Fundraising Planner ensures that all activities fit together as a whole and support each and every program.
The model presented in this workbook is flexible and suited to multiple purposes. Use The Fundraising Planner and learn how to:
- Create an effective overview plan
- Formulate a calAndar of events, mailings, and strategies to attract contributions
- Draw fundraising ideas from financial data
- Strengthen your donor and prospect lists
- - Survey your board to refine its mission
- Produce a basic funding proposal and press kit
- Prepare clear status reports for the board, development staff, and key fundraising participants
- Track progress towards your funding goal
The authors have organized the workbook into four sections corresponding to the main stages of designing a fundraising plan:
- Understanding the Big Picture
- Deciding Plan Inputs
- Putting the Plan Together
- Monitoring the Plan
Within each section, chapters detail how to master an essential fundraising skill and offer "To Do" exercises to reinforce learning. The exercises allow you to build a cogent, practical fundraising plan. Additionally, there are real-life examples reflecting current fundraising issues across the country. The Fundraising Planner provides easy-to-follow advice to fundraisers from organizations of all sizes. With this valuable guide, you and your team can achieve greater efficiency in the day-to-day challenges of fundraising.
Customer Reviews:
Fundraising Plan.......2007-04-23
Great tool for fundraising planning. Workable model for creating a donation and fundraising plan for nonprofit companies.
Plan, plan, plan!.......2004-12-30
The Fundraising Planner does a nice job covering the "particulars" of planning without losing sight of the bigger picture. Like other titles in the Jossey-Bass series, this guide is helpful in structuring an approach and strategy for raising funds. Practical and well-written.
Good Intro Book.......2004-01-31
This is a pretty solid introductory book to fundraising, donor management, proposals, etc. If you are new to the business I would definitely recommend it, though more experienced people might not find it quite as helpful. (though there are still a some good nuggets of information)
A "real" working model.......2001-05-24
Terry & Doug Schaff have provided a virtual road map in The Fundraising Planner. The information is presented in a clear and well thought out manner presenting information that can be seamlessly inserted into your current programs. The planner illustrates how to develop, plan and implement the strategies necessary to conduct successful and accountable fundraising activities.
This book truly has something for everyone. From the neophyte to the seasoned professional, the Schaffs have provided a tool that will take your plans to the next level. The planner truly is a step-by-step guide that does not insult the reader with coddling phrases and usless data. Each chapter delves ever deeper into the raison d'etre for each mechanism used to move the fundraising process.
As a Development Director I found many applications within the planner that I can utilize to complement my planning activities. The real world applications provided after each step are valuable exercises as you facilitate your yearly planning process. The information presented is very timely, relevant and useful.
Well Done!
Average customer rating:
- Not a new theory,but a new way of solving Keynes's theory
- real options
- Not For The Faint-Hearted
- dealing with uncertainty
- State of the art -- but math is a required subject
|
Investment under Uncertainty
Avinash K. Dixit , and
Robert S. Pindyck
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
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Similar Items:
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Real Options and Investment under Uncertainty: Classical Readings and Recent Contributions
-
Real Options, Revised Edition: A Practitioner's Guide
-
Real Options: Managerial Flexibility and Strategy in Resource Allocation
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Strategic Investment: Real Options and Games
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Economic Growth, 2nd Edition
ASIN: 0691034109 |
Book Description
How should firms decide whether and when to invest in new capital equipment, additions to their workforce, or the development of new products? Why have traditional economic models of investment failed to explain the behavior of investment spending in the United States and other countries? In this book, Avinash Dixit and Robert Pindyck provide the first detailed exposition of a new theoretical approach to the capital investment decisions of firms, stressing the irreversibility of most investment decisions, and the ongoing uncertainty of the economic environment in which these decisions are made. In so doing, they answer important questions about investment decisions and the behavior of investment spending.
This new approach to investment recognizes the option value of waiting for better (but never complete) information. It exploits an analogy with the theory of options in financial markets, which permits a much richer dynamic framework than was possible with the traditional theory of investment. The authors present the new theory in a clear and systematic way, and consolidate, synthesize, and extend the various strands of research that have come out of the theory. Their book shows the importance of the theory for understanding investment behavior of firms; develops the implications of this theory for industry dynamics and for government policy concerning investment; and shows how the theory can be applied to specific industries and to a wide variety of business problems.
Customer Reviews:
Not a new theory,but a new way of solving Keynes's theory.......2004-07-23
Dixit and Pindyck(DP)have not come up with a new theory of investment. The three aspects that they deal with in their theory are the irreversibility of costly fixed plant and equipment,the uncertainty of the information base upon which the probabilities will be estimated,and the timing of the investment project over a series of future time periods.DP correctly point out that the NPV rule does not deal with the uncertainty of the information base upon which the probabilities will be calculated while also ignoring the question of the timing of a project,given that additional new relevant information on the potential expected profitability of a project may be forthcoming in future time periods.Thus, there is a value that can be assigned to waiting for this additional relevant evidence to occur in the future.The Net Present Value( NPV) rule or the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)only deals with risk,not uncertainty.Both of these rules assume the existence of a unique,well defined probability distribution that satisfies the law of large numbers.A decision maker need only concern himself with the variability of the outcomes over time. This is measured by the standard deviation.DP demonstrate that the standard approach to investment theory discounts only for time and risk while ignoring uncertainty or conflating uncertainty with risk.DP advocate an additional discount for uncertainty.DP obtain this result using the calculus of variations, optimal control theory,stochastic control theory and dynamic programming.These techniques,while interesting ,are not necessary in order to obtain the given result.A much less advanced mathematical approach was used by John Maynard Keynes to obtain approximately the same result.A criticism of this book would be the failure on the part of DP to mention the similarities between their theory and that of Keynes.Keynes's theory is covered in chapters 11,12 and 17 of Keynes's 1936 book ,titled the General Theory(GT).In chapter 17 ,Keynes makes a very important addition to the theory of the previously mentioned chapters on pages 239-241 where Keynes points out that the decision maker must also discount for uncertainty as well as for risk and time preference.Keynes's footnote on page 240 of the GT directs the reader to his technical model contained in chapter 26 of A Treatise on Probability, called a conventional coefficient of weight and risk c.In order to obtain approximately the same result as obtained by DP,one needed only multiply Keynes's NPV model of chapter 11 of the GT by the c coefficient.
real options.......2004-05-03
ok, i found this book is very important and give a new vision to understant the world of investement under uncertainty , further it demonstrate a new application nommed real options, by this new model we can making same decision with integrating the notion of flexibility in procesus of investement
Not For The Faint-Hearted.......2000-01-28
Investment Under Undertainty by Avinash Dixit and Robert Pindyck has been an important book in the 1990's because it introduced a relatively new subject to a new and eager audience when there was little else available outside of original research papers. Many of us are grateful to the authors for this introduction. However, newcomers should be aware that they omit large and crucial details of implementation [example: chapter 4, section 1H, pages 110-112 including the graphs on page 111: a newcomer will be lost; if you wait until the appendix to chapter 10, on numerical solution, then you may or may not note the printing errors]. The book is not for the faint-hearted beginner; even the simplest material, such as valuation of a perpetuity (see Corporate Finance by Brealey & Myers - very easy) occurs in a form which the beginner or skim-reading manager might not readily recognise (chapter 5, section 1A, pages 138-139); but then this book is not for them.
See also Real Options by Lenos Trigeorgis, who writes as if he keenly wants you to have fast access to his subject. For someone writing purely on the mathematical finance aspects, read anything by Paul Wilmott, who is clearly both clever and an exceptional educator
dealing with uncertainty.......2000-01-06
When searching for a framework for my PhD, I encountered Dixit's 1991 exposition on investmetn under uncertainty, in Journal of Economic Perspective. I was immeadiately hooked on option theory and its applications. Both authors of this splendid book are authorities in this field. The book is ideal for advanced MBA students with some mathamatics background. It is also suitable for PhD students in economics and finance. However students with math or engineering backgrounds may also benefit from reading this book.
As this book has repeatedly demonstrate, investmet in a uncertain world involves exercising an option. I mat asure the readers and buyers alike, investing in this book will yield high returns for your time and money.
State of the art -- but math is a required subject.......1999-08-24
Let me say that this is not a book for those looking for investment advice or get-rich-quick schemes. It is also not a book for those who think that an MBA and an HP12C are all you need to understand the basic theory behind investments, options, etc.
It is a mathematical subject...and to those with a good mathematical background, the book is remarkably well-organized and easy to understand. I found this book to be very helpful in my research.
Book Description
This book is the authoritative work on developing plans, strategies, and tactics that will raise funds for capital projects.
Customer Reviews:
What a surprise!.......2001-10-19
Book Review:
Capital Campaigns: Strategies That Work
By: Andrea Kihlstedt and Catherine P. Schwartz
Edited by: James P. Gelatt
Aspen Publishers, Inc. Gaithersburg, Maryland 1997
Reviewed by: Norman Olshansky: President
NFP Consulting Resources, Inc.
...
What a surprise! With over 30 years of non profit fundraising, leadership and capital campaign consulting experience, I expected to gain little from this "how to" book which I was given to review. Boy, was I wrong.
Step by step, the authors outline and expand upon the key elements of a capital campaign; from determining whether or not your organization is ready for a campaign, to the best ways to celebrate and evaluate its conclusion.
I appreciated the amount of detail the authors included and their emphasis on organization, planning, leadership involvement and communications. They explore the basic process and then give in depth coverage of each step. In addition to sharing their own personal knowledge and expertise, they gathered much of their material by interviewing friends and clients who also had extensive capital campaign experience. They made the book more interesting, and dramatized the points they wanted to make, by the inclusion of short vignettes and quotes by volunteer and professionals, from actual campaign experiences.
Among the important subjects covered by the book are: how to select and use consultants, building the case for support, conducting a feasibility study, creating a campaign management plan, prospecting and prospect research, team building and leadership development, techniques of solicitation, campaign materials and public relations, events, thank yous, recognition, and much more. They even have a trouble shooting guide which focuses on what to do when things go wrong.
I highly recommend this handbook for volunteer leadership and staff alike (whatever their level of previous experience) who are considering a capital campaign. It is a book that should also be part of the libraries of campaign consultants. I have to admit that I picked up several great new ideas and techniques from reading the book.
Keep in mind that this is a "how to" book and will continue to be of value as a reference tool. The table of contents and index are complete and excellent in their detail.
I felt the authors could have put more emphasis on and expand the section on feasibility studies, or as I like to call them, pre-campaign assessments. Too many organizations try to avoid this important process thinking that they already know they need to know. They feel the pre-campaign study will take unnecessary time and resources. A good study not only sets the stage for a successful capital campaign and determines a realistic goal, but also provides invaluable information about the way the organization is perceived in the community, potential for major support, and extent to which leadership and staff are ready or capable to do what is necessary for success.
Organizational culture, leadership styles, personality management and what is often referred to as organizational politics are other areas which I felt deserved expanded coverage by the authors. Human factors, organizational history, and communication styles are all addressed in the book but are not given as extensive or in depth presentation as is warranted.
In summary, this book not only meets, but exceeds its very appropriate title: Capital Campaigns-Strategies that Work.
Better than expected!.......2001-10-16
What a surprise! With over 30 years of non profit fundraising, leadership and capital campaign consulting experience, I expected to gain little from this how to book which I was given to review. Boy, was I wrong.
Step by step, the authors outline and expand upon the key elements of a capital campaign; from determining whether or not your organization is ready for a campaign, to the best ways to celebrate and evaluate its conclusion.
I appreciated the amount of detail the authors included and their emphasis on organization, planning, leadership involvement and communications. They explore the basic process and then give in depth coverage of each step. In addition to sharing their own personal knowledge and expertise, they gathered much of their material by interviewing friends and clients who also had extensive capital campaign experience. They made the book more interesting, and dramatized the points they wanted to make, by the inclusion of short vignettes and quotes by volunteer and professionals, from actual campaign experiences.
Among the important subjects covered by the book are: how to select and use consultants, building the case for support, conducting a feasibility study, creating a campaign management plan, prospecting and prospect research, team building and leadership development, techniques of solicitation, campaign materials and public relations, events, thank yous, recognition, and much more. They even have a trouble shooting guide which focuses on what to do when things go wrong.
I highly recommend this handbook for volunteer leadership and staff alike (whatever their level of previous experience) who are considering a capital campaign. It is a book that should also be part of the libraries of campaign consultants. I have to admit that I picked up several great new ideas and techniques from reading the book.
Keep in mind that this is a how to book and will continue to be of value as a reference tool. The table of contents and index are complete and excellent in their detail.
I felt the authors could have put more emphasis on and expand the section on feasibility studies, or as I like to call them, pre-campaign assessments. Too many organizations try to avoid this important process thinking that they already know they need to know. They feel the pre-campaign study will take unnecessary time and resources. A good study not only sets the stage for a successful capital campaign and determines a realistic goal, but also provides invaluable information about the way the organization is perceived in the community, potential for major support, and extent to which leadership and staff are ready or capable to do what is necessary for success.
Organizational culture, leadership styles, personality management and what is often referred to as organizational politics are other areas which I felt deserved expanded coverage by the authors. Human factors, organizational history, and communication styles are all addressed in the book but are not given as extensive or in depth presentation as is warranted.
In summary, this book not only meets, but exceeds its very appropriate title: Capital Campaigns-Strategies that Work.
Book Description
This text covers the process of starting a business, raising capital, managing the finances of the business throughout its growth, and ultimately cashing out of the business. The book is very practical, providing real-world advice and information sought by those who want to start their own businesses. Stancill's text sticks to the nuts and bolts of managing the finances of a start-up or small business.
Customer Reviews:
Financial Street Smarts.......2004-05-07
Professor Stancill, an icon at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, shows a unique approach to entrepreneurial / mid-market finance. If you are looking for a traditional discussion of financial concepts get one of the the many fine textbooks on the market. But if you are are ready to "get down and dirty", especially if you intend to acquire a small business in an LBO scenario, apply the lessons learned from this book. Stancill applies street-smarts to structuring a deal, and he offers a hands-on, step-by-step approach that is easy to follow even by non-financial types.
Great.......2003-11-01
I was lucky enough to be able to have Jim Stancill as one of my MBA professors at USC -- this book is a great book if you want to learn how to REALLY start a company. Specially for academics and non-business people, this is NOT your corporate finance book. This is how small companies start up and how to run a small company and even how to buy a company.
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- Introduction to Management Accounting, Chap. 1-17 (13th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
- Introduction to Management Accounting, Chap. 1-17 (13th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
- Investments: An Introduction (with Thomson ONE - Business School Edition and Stock-Trak Coupon)
- Management Accounting: A Business Planning Approach
- Martin Pring's Introduction to Technical Analysis: A CD-ROM Seminar and Workbook
- Medical Manager Student Edition 10
- Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities (Academic Press Advanced Finance Series)
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