As a communications and fundraising professional for 25 years, I’ve encountered countless development resources. Pamela Grow’s Simple Development Systems: Successful Fundraising for the One-Person Shop stands out as one that deserves an easily accessible spot on your shelf.

This guide addresses the unique challenges facing small nonprofits trying to move beyond ‘fits-and-starts’ fundraising. In reader-friendly chapters filled with additional resources, you will learn about donor-centric systems you can implement—even with limited staff.

There is a back-to-basics feel to the text, yet the principles Grow writes about are called “The Basics” for a reason. The book covers essential fundamentals, from building a communications plan and creating annual reports to developing reliable donor relationships and launching monthly giving programs, grant writing, and crafting compelling stories. Practical tools, including templates, worksheets, and recorded trainings, help readers implement these strategies immediately.

The curse of knowledge can capture any of us at any time, and when it does, references like this book are the cure. Grow even addresses common pitfalls like “Bright Shiny Object Syndrome” (or what I like to call the “capital-A-answer”—that one magic solution we think will fix everything) and the overwhelm that comes with being a one-person shop.

I believe that, when we are able to master our particular areas of expertise, we can tap into new levels of creativity, authenticity, and stewardship—the lifeblood of all development systems. Simple Development Systems is a book I’ll be referencing often as I prepare for another year of inviting others to give generously.