Did someone say books?

Cultivating success: A handful of must-read books for grant writers on grant writing, leadership, and personal development.

"Think before you speak, and read before you think." - Fran Lebowitz.

Ah, the power of a good book. I sure do love to read. I have also recently started listening to more audiobooks. A friend is re-reading all the Harry Potter books while listening to them and says it is a delightful experience. And you know what? More of that might be in store for us since Hollywood is a touch behind in production. Not a bad thing. Maybe.

Okay, I digress.

But did you know keeping current on the latest grant writing and leadership books can give you a natural edge? It's not just about learning new strategies but also about personal growth. In their article, "An Underrated Skill To Be A Successful Entrepreneur: Reading," Forbes states that reading can open your mind to fresh new perspectives, making you a better collaborator and building stronger relationships with your colleagues.

Plus, reading gives you so many other perks like these:

• Supercharged problem-solving skills

• A commitment to personal growth

• Mastering the art of adapting to change

• Nailing those communication skills

• Finding endless inspiration and motivation

And to top it all off. These are essential to keeping up with the ever-shifting world of grant requirements. And (let's not forget) the challenges of running a nonprofit.

That's why I've compiled a list of my all-time favorite book recommendations!

They are divided into two categories, many specific to grant writing and a handful on personal development. Fiction is not my go-to, but I enjoy a good fiction book, and every year, I re-read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 10/10.

Please consider perusing your local bookshop or asking them to place an order. The public library is also a fantastic resource. In Abilene, our APL will typically get a copy from another library if a copy is unavailable. If you are a resident of Texas, you can apply for a library card in Houston and check out books via the Libby or Hoopla app. Add your local card number, too.

Grant Writing & A Few Nonprofit Industry Books (There are many more.)

I highly recommend the following books. These books will help you gain valuable insights and tips from experts. Not to mention, they can also help you develop essential skills in the grant writing world. Communication, research, and building partnerships are a few important ones. And I love all of these options!

• How to Write a Grant: Become a Grant Writing Unicorn by Meredith Noble

Before I joined the LGW collective (Meredith is the CEO), I read this book. It answers many basic questions and explains how to successfully research and apply for grants. Bonus? The author gets her point across in a fun way. So many grant-writing books are incredibly dull, but this one holds your attention.

• Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz

As leaders, we can all fall into the trap of thinking more words help increase communication, but this isn't always true. Concise and clear writing often equals excellent communication. Do you use a lot of adjectives, adverbs, and flowering language in your writing? At best, you might come across as insincere, at worst incompetent, or even fraudulent. Smart Brevity can help you define what to say and how without getting caught up in words that don't matter.

• Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in order to Move Forward by Henry Cloud

A practical guide on how to prune what is no longer serving you so you can make room for new growth—a great organizational tool. This book will give you insight into learning how to stop destructive behaviors and understanding why ending things is good. Ultimately, my favorite part is exploring the benefits of change, which is important personally and professionally. I heard about this book when I attended a workshop at my local Community Foundation from Eddy Smith, and I have forever been grateful to him for this gem. I have reread it more than once.

• The Little Book of Nonprofit Leadership by Erik Hanberg
  

Many non-profit leadership books start with "you should delegate to <insert a staff title here>. Go ahead, eye-roll; I am right here with you. What if you are a small nonprofit with a limited budget? Do you have a staff or two, or is it just you? Erik Hanberg's book provides practical tips and essential guidance on mastering programs, people, and financial management to help organizations thrive. The book also offers insights on working effectively with boards and addresses specific challenges faced by EDs of small nonprofits. With 20 years of nonprofit experience, Hanberg's expertise shines through in this concise yet comprehensive guide, which has been widely acclaimed and has sold tens of thousands of copies.

• Guide to Nonprofit Leadership by Joan Garry

Joan coined the phrase "nonprofits are messy." She breaks down the complicated world of nonprofit organizations into manageable bite-size chapters. Joan is open to the reality of the work and the role of non-profit leaders. I love this book because she gives practical advice yet incorporates her humor and honesty, making this an essential part of any grant writing collection.

• BE (How to Create Your Brand) by Jessica Zeig

This step-by-step guide on building personal branding (cross-over content for organizations) is a must-read! It's a good resource if you struggle to find your "voice" online or on social media. I’ve used this book while embarking on my branding journey, and Ahhh… it has helped so much!

• Unicorns Unite: How nonprofits and foundations can build EPIC Partnerships by Jessamyn Shams-Lau

How many nonprofits and foundations don't relate to each other? NP: They want us to do what? Foundation: Why would they think we would support this? Hmmm…why such a disconnect? This book offers practical exercises for your nonprofit team to think through so you can strengthen your relationship with foundations that support your cause. Get ready to get a touch uncomfortable, too.

And a few more...

I have read a few of the following, which I picked up from Candid's (who used to be Guidestar) must-read list. They are specific to non-profit leadership and fundraising. I am in the process of reading one now!

Managing and Leading Nonprofit Organizations: A Framework for Success by Paul L. Dann

The Leader Lab: Core Skills to Become a Great Manager, Faster by Tania Luna and LeeAnn Renninger

How to be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive by Jennifer Brown

BeneFactors: Why Some Fundraising Professionals Always Succeed by Joshua M. Birholz

Demystifying Fundraising Funnels: A Digital Marketing Blueprint to Fund Your Non-Profit by David Higgins

Winning Grants Step by Step: The Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing, and Writing Successful Proposals by Tori O-Neal-McElrath, Lynn Kanter, and Lynn English.

Innovation for Social Change: How Wildly Successful Nonprofits Inspire and Deliver Results by Leah Kral

Not a Book: Board Source is a membership worth considering if you are a nonprofit leader. Membership costs a little over $100 annually and contains hundreds of articles, templates, questionnaires, and more on nonprofit organizational structure.

My top recommendations for Personal Development books.

I own all kinds of Personal Development books, which occupy a cozy corner on my bookshelf. These books empower you to grow as the leader you envision yourself as. In the article "Why Successful People Read Self-Help Books," Sally Oddy emphasizes that the main benefits are opening your mind, building knowledge, and finding inspiration. Each author's experiences truly inspire me, and this is reflected in my work.

So here are my book recommendations. There's something for everyone!

• Man's Search or Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Viktor Frankl's struggle to hold on to hope during the unspeakable horrors of his years as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps. Frankl's training as a psychiatrist lent him a remarkable perspective on the psychology of survival. I read this book every year since I "discovered" it in 2014. We cannot avoid life's hardship, trials, or unkindness, but we can find the will to create a meaningful life.

• We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers

What is stopping you from earning more? Written explicitly for women, it is a guide to clear obstacles (because plenty are already out there and often within). I loved this book. Why? Because so many women have helped me, this book got me thinking about them one at a time. As women, we have a collective power we often do not recognize as "power," but it is there.

• The Audacity to Be Queen by Gina Devee

Written for women, this gem is about owning our power, raising our standards, being honest (yep, with ourselves, too), and contributing our talents like never before. When a woman chooses to be a queen, everyone benefits - from running for office, as a CEO, or living life on purpose - step into the life you want to live. (As a cycling studio owner, my only criticism is when the author haphazardly mentions leaving a spin class with small attendance because the energy was off despite the instructor giving it her all. Holy moly, Gina! You have no idea what it took for that instructor to show up for you. I got over it, lol. Because it is a fantastic book, but I had to put it down for a bit.)

• From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks (just finished!)

The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and the Atlantic's happiness columnist Arthur Brooks.

Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the more outstanding our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline and the more painful it is when it occurs. Essentially, Arthur Brook's book is about how to adapt to change, to feel, and be successful at any age. This book might resonate if you are a mid-life, self-proclaimed striver/high achiever.

• The Power of One More by Ed Mylett

If you want to improve your game and achieve your goals, I highly recommend "The Power of One More." It's filled with valuable insights that are easy to understand and implement. This book helped me when I was struggling with a mental block; it helps unlock the strength and power inside you.

• Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

Shetty grew up in a family where you could become one of three things—a doctor, a lawyer, or a failure. He became a monk, huh?! There are so many takeaways, but the beauty of this book is a subtle undertone of the power of single-tasking as a path to inner peace.

• Fear is My Homeboy by Judi Holler

Fear is most potent when you are about to make the move. You know the one, the one you are supposed to make? We often hold ourselves back out of fear of failure. We ask, “What if??” instead of ‘Why can’t it be me??” I’ve been there, but this book encouraged me to overcome my self-doubt when transitioning to a cycling instructor.

• How Are You, Really? By Jenna Kutcher

If you’re ready to live a more authentic life, this book is for you! Full of practical strategies and self-reflection exercises, you'll think positively in no time. It's time to drop hustle culture. What are you living for? My absolute favorite part is that she adds questions for reflection. Reading, writing, and reflection can’t beat that in a book!

• Believe It by Jaime Kern Lima

Founder of IT Cosmetic, a personal and bold story of how one woman's deep belief in herself led her to unbelievable results. Believe It showcases how a struggling waitress morphed into a successful entrepreneur. This read is both inspiring and motivational.

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

This is my all-time favorite book for manifestation change in my life. Whether it’s reading more, working on that side hustle, or joining that first spin class (you know you want to), James helps you break down each step in forming a new habit and making it easier to try something new. There is a reason this book has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. Just get it and try it out; who knows what could happen?

• An Astronauts Guide to Living Life on Earth by Col. Chris Hadfield

So, the small stuff won't kill you unless you are an astronaut, in which case it sure could—the power of living an intentional life with determination and a little preparedness. Plus, there is lots of outer space talk, which is fun, too.

• High Performing Habits by Brendon Burchard

There are six habits to move the needle in every area of your life, and it isn't to work more. Suppose you are looking for science-backed strategies as well as practical lessons. This is the book for you! Brendon talks about his days as a high-performance coach, and his success story inspires me.

• Now What? By Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers

What do we do when our lives seem mired in conflict? These two friends hold varying beliefs but offer a path to connection if the status quo - don't talk about politics isn't working for you anymore.

So, whether you're looking to enhance your grant writing skills, lead your nonprofit to new heights, or embark on a journey of personal growth. These books have got you covered.

Go out there and read. Support your local bookshop. And don't forget about your public library – they're a fantastic resource. Wherever you get your books from, know that with every page you read, you are one step closer to transforming into a better version of YOU.

Tell me what books you enjoy reading - fiction or non-fiction, any book counts! Keep reading, keep learning, and keep growing.

Resources mentioned/used:

An Underrated Skill To Be A Successful Entrepreneur: Reading

Why Successful People Read Self-Help Books

Candid.com

A few select book summary bits were pulled from Amazon descriptions as well.