By: Debbi Olley, Senior Consultant
Debbi Olley
As a former public librarian, reading and discussing books are favorite pastimes of mine. In 2026, with so much focus on AI, as well as constant advances and shifts in technology, it feels like a true pleasure to go back to the basics…books! Even though the beach read season is wrapping up (as if we’re bringing work-related books to the beach!), any time of the year is always a great time to have a casual book discussion and exchange of titles. I’m happy to acknowledge the help of my coworkers (and fellow bookworms) at HBG in compiling this list, as well as participants on PRSPCT-L (you might not have known I was lurking!) and APRA-PA, which has a solid booklist on its site.
Prospect Research and Prospect Management Guides
While some of these may be considered “classics” in the field, it’s also true that, while there have been so many changes since original publication dates, some basics remain the same:
The Art and Science Approach to Fundraising Data and Research by Stephanie Willis (Amplify, 2026)
From the Ground Up: Prospect Research for Nonprofits by Sarah Marcotte and Katherine Scott (Independently Published, 2026)
Prospect Management: The Essential Guide for a High Functioning Nonprofit Prospect Management System by Ruthie Giles (Staupell, LLC, 2025)
Precision Prospect Development by Nathan Fay (Precision Philanthropy, 2019)
Prospect Research for Fundraisers by Jennifer Filla and Helen Brown (Wiley, 2013)
Prospect Research Is a Verb: Fundraising Is the Subject by Meredith Hancks & Cara Rosson (CharityChannel Press, 2013)
Prospect Research: A Primer for Growing Nonprofits by Celia Hogan (Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2007, 2nd ed.)
Data Analytics
This topic is perpetually relevant, especially with an almost endless stream of information and data. As researchers, we always want to be sure we’re mining the data we collect as efficiently as possible:
AI-Assisted Statistics for Data Scientists: 50 Essential Concepts Using R and Python by Peter Bruce, Andrew Bruce, and Peter Gedek (O’Reilly Media, 2026)
Reshaping Fundraising Strategy for Nonprofit Organizations through AI edited by Alyse Jordan and Natalia A. Pierson (IGI Global Scientific Publishing, 2026)
Data Science for Fundraising: Build Data-Driven Solutions Using R by Ashutosh R. Nandeshwar and Rodger Devine (Data Insight Partners LLC, 2018)
Building Your Analytics Shop: A Workbook for Nonprofits by Marianne Pelletier (Independently Published, 2016)
Data Driven Nonprofits by Steve McLaughlin (Saltire Press, 2016)
Fundraising Analytics: Using Data to Guide Strategy by Joshua Birkholz (Wiley, 2008)
Fundraising and Philanthropy
Covering topics ranging from effective altruism to practical tips for nonprofits, with ongoing discussions (and arguments) over where people’s money should be directed and how, these issues are always worth discussing. I included one fiction title on this list, just to mix things up a bit:
The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks (Simon and Schuster, 2025)
The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich by Evan Osnos (Scribner, 2025)
The Responsive Nonprofit: 8 Practices that Drive Nonprofit Innovation and Impact by Gabe Cooper (Liberalis, 2024)
The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges by Nathan Chappell, Brian Crimmins, and Michael Ashley (Wiley, 2022)
The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine (Wiley, 2022)
Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving by Sharna Goldseker and Michael Moody (Wiley, 2020)
The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age by David Callahan (Alfred A. Knopf, 2017)
Giving Done Right: Effective Philanthropy and Making Every Dollar Count by Phil Buchanan (PublicAffairs, 2019)
Understanding Philanthropy: Its Meaning and Mission by Robert L. Payton and Michael P. Moody (Indiana University Press, 2008)
With a treasure trove of books available on these subjects, this booklist is only an abridged selection. May your fall and the rest of your 2026 be filled not only with books, but also with the time to slow down and savor the printed page. Enjoy!
