Turning Donors into Partners

Principles for Fundraising You'll Actually Enjoy

Say goodbye to frantic fundraising

What if you could transform the way people felt about giving?

What if instead of feeling guilted or pressured into supporting your mission, your donors felt excited and honored to partner with you in ministry?

Imagine being able to:

Achieve your fundraising goals faster
Have the resources you need to make a bigger impact
Eliminate "donor fatigue" and stop wearing out volunteers
Spend less time on fundraising and more on your bigger mission
Not feel like you're fundraising all by yourself

Think of the impact that mindset shift could have on your fundraising – and more importantly, on what God has called you to do.

Escape the fundraising hamster wheel

Developing a base of committed, engaged ministry partners to support you is not as challenging as you may think.

With decades of expertise in fundraising, from raising personal support to leading multimillion-dollar capital campaigns, Brad Layland presents the practical, strategic, and relational approach you’ve been looking for to raise all the funds you need.

In this hands-on book, you’ll learn:

The 6 key principles of relational fundraising
The 4 steps to take before making an “ask”
The core components of the Taking Donors Seriously® framework
A proven way to avoid transactional fundraising
And more…

If you’re ready to revolutionize your fundraising, this book is for you.

Download your free chapter

Start reading now for a sneak peek of Turning Donors into Partners. Get a head start on cultivating a community of people who love giving to your ministry and want to help you succeed.

About the author

Brad Layland is the CEO of The FOCUS Group, which provides fundraising counsel to nonprofit organizations in major donor development, strategic planning, and capital campaigns. He’s also the founder and owner of Endless Summer Realty, the largest residential real estate brokerage in St. Augustine, Florida. Brad is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), holds a MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and has completed 51 marathons and two Ironman triathlons. He and his wife, Dr. Wendy Layland, have four children.

Organizations Brad has helped include:

What industry leaders are saying about the book

"Brad gets that fundraising is ministry like no one else I know. He truly loves the sacred hopes that God has placed in the hearts of donors and organizations alike, and he wants to help everyone in the fundraising relationship fulfill them. If any of that sounds like an ‘I want’ that's beating in your heart, you're holding the right book. And you're ready to join Brad on this journey of appreciating donors, serving each other, and becoming joy-filled partners on mission together."

"If you are ready for a fresh take on fundraising, then Turning Donors into Partners is the book you have been looking for. Filled with transformational insights and practical ideas, it is sure to become a resource you return to year after year."

"Brad has the amazing ability to bring together practical, applicable principles with thoughtful, people-focused counsel. I have never come away from a training with or reading by Brad where I have not learned something from him. Everything he writes is borne of experience, mistakes, and listening, and it builds on mission at the heart. I highly commend this book to you!"

"Overcoming the invisible barriers and perceptions of fundraising is so necessary in the nonprofit world. Brad's book does just this! With timeless principles, great stories, and practical tips, you will come away with great optimism, hope, and confidence. I have known Brad for the past ten years, and he has been instrumental with our organization in raising up more and more partners around our country."

"I have had the great pleasure of learning from Brad Layland and the FOCUS Group as I stepped into development with no experience. Layland's caring heart for those who give resonated with me and allowed me freedom to be authentic with partners, putting their needs above the money while still fully funding the work. Read this book and learn from one of the best, who has lived these experiences and teaches others from proven success."

Go deeper with the video course

With simplicity, clarity, wisdom, and humor, Brad shares inspiring stories and delivers actionable principles, equipping you to transform your fundraising into a life-giving, energizing experience.