Dr. Beth Breeze Wins AFP/Skystone Partners Research Prize for Volume on Study of Fundraisers

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has awarded the 2018 AFP/Skystone Partners Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy to Beth Breeze for her book The New Fundraisers: Who Organises Charitable Giving in Contemporary Society?, published by Policy Press, in 2017.

The New Fundraisers provides a global overview on the purpose and history of fundraising, with in-depth data from an extensive study of UK fundraisers. The book is an empirically-based and theoretically-informed account of the makeup and role of fundraisers, how fundraising works in practice and what kinds of skills and training make for an effective fundraising professional.

“Writing this book was a labour of love because I feel strongly that fundraising is a crucial yet overlooked, and often misunderstood, profession,” said Breeze. “I hope that the book helps to challenge the illogical position whereby charities are widely admired, but the people who bring in the funding that enables charitable activity to take place, are not.

Commenting on Dr. Breeze’s award-winning book, the prize jury commented that “this excellent volume was selected because of its value as a research study that centers itself outside of the United States. Dr. Breeze’s book argues that fundraising is about much more than simply ‘raising funds’ by asking donors, as the process must also include the complex work of cultivation by the practitioner. Prior to now, most researchers have focused on individual donors, their characteristics and their motivations. Dr. Breeze flips the script and, through empirical research, helps us understand the fundraiser. We commend Dr. Breeze for strong research and an accessible book that can forward our field.”

Each year, the AFP Research Council awards the Skystone Partners Prize for Research to the author or authors of a book that contributes substantially to the knowledge and understanding of fundraising or philanthropic behavior. The award is made possible by an endowment established by Skystone Partners, an international fundraising consulting firm, through the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy to encourage advanced research that extends the knowledge of fundraising and philanthropy.

Breeze is a senior lecturer on social policy and director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent in the UK. She worked as a fundraiser and charity manager before co-founding the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, where she now leads a team conducting research and teaching courses on philanthropy and fundraising. She has written the annual Coutts Million Pound Donor Report since 2008, co-authored Richer Lives: Why Rich People Give (2013), The Logic of Charity: Great Expectations in Hard Times (2015) and co-edited The Philanthropy Reader (2016).

"I am absolutely thrilled to be awarded the AFP Skystone Partners Research prize,” said Breeze. “The books written by previous winners are amongst the most treasured items on my bookshelf, so I am truly honoured to be in such company."

“Beth’s book is a valuable new resource to our field,” said Elizabeth Knuppel, president and CEO of Skystone Partners. “Her research emphasizes the strengths required for an exemplary fundraising professional, and will serve to assist nonprofit leaders around the globe in understanding our noble profession, as well as identifying, developing and supporting the fundraising role in their organizations.”

AFP will present the Skystone Partners Prize for Research at its board meeting before the 55th AFP International Fundraising Conference in New Orleans, April 14.

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Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has inspired global change—helping nonprofits and charities and supporting fundraising efforts that have generated more than $1 trillion. AFP advances effective and ethical philanthropy by providing advocacy, research, education, mentoring, collaboration and technology opportunities for the world’s largest network of professional fundraisers. AFP’s more than 33,000 members raise more than $115 billion annually, equivalent to approximately one-third of charitable giving in North America, with millions more generated around the world. For more information, go to www.afpglobal.org.

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Skystone Partners and its diverse team of fundraising consultants have counseled nonprofits and managed campaigns with goals from $1 million to over $500 million. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the firm and its U.S.-based professional staff members are currently serving institutions throughout North America and the world. For more information, go to www.skystonepartners.com.