From the #1 best-selling author ofA Better Way to Fundraise
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Whether you give or help others who do, Restoring the Joy of Generosity will help make giving more rewarding.
Steve GreenPresident, Hobby Lobby
About the book
Something has happened to generosity in America.
Millions of everyday Americans who once gave to nonprofit organizations no longer do. It would be easy to conclude that we've become less generous – that economic pressure, political division, declining trust, and the fraying of community life have left us less able or willing to care for one another.
But what if that conclusion is wrong?
In Restoring the Joy of Generosity, Derric Bakker makes the case that it is. Drawing on research, real-world stories, and more than three decades of observing generosity firsthand, he contends that generosity is still very much alive – and that the real problem may lie in the way people are experiencing giving today.
Find yourself in these pages.
For everyone who wants generosity to flourish.
Make generosity more meaningful.
Discover what makes generosity so deeply rewarding – and how to find greater purpose, meaning, and joy in your giving.
What you will take away
↗Recognize the sources of joy in your own giving.
↗Give with intention and move closer to the work you care about.
↗Invite family or friends into a shared experience of generosity.
Praise for the book
Endorsements
Make giving more rewarding
Giving is for everyone. It can be a great joy, or it can feel like a burden. After decades of working alongside donors, Derric Bakker knows what makes the difference – and he wants everyone to experience that joy. Whether you give or help others who do, Restoring the Joy of Generosity will help make giving more rewarding.
Steve GreenPresident, Hobby Lobby
A clear strategy for a better way forward
In a sector increasingly focused on metrics, results, and new technology, Derric Bakker reminds us of something essential: generosity is about people, not transactions. Restoring the Joy of Generosity challenges nonprofit leaders to rethink how we invite people into giving, and, most importantly, offers a clear strategy for a better way forward.
Meghan SpeerExecutive Director, Nonprofit Hub
A deeply human answer
At a time when fewer Americans are giving, this book asks an important question: How can we grow more generous people? The answer Derric Bakker provides is deeply human: Show people the good they helped make possible, and help them rediscover the joy of giving. Restoring the Joy of Generosity is a powerfully effective book about raising more than money; it’s a practical roadmap for growing generous people.
Russell JamesProfessor of Charitable Financial Planning, Texas Tech University
Remember who we serve
We spent decades perfecting the mechanics of modern fundraising, building an engine that mobilizes billions for vital causes. But along the way, did our operational success eclipse the joy of giving? In Restoring the Joy of Generosity, Derric Bakker challenges us to restore it – and to remember who we built this industry to serve.
Shannon McCrackenPresident & CEO, The Nonprofit Alliance
Giving should be good for the donor too
Restoring the Joy of Generosity makes an important point that fundraisers can easily lose sight of: giving should be good for the donor too. As a major donor, I have personally experienced organizations that made giving incredibly meaningful and others that made it feel completely transactional. Derric's challenge to help donors feel more connected to the impact of their generosity is one every nonprofit should take seriously and act on.
Chip GrizzardPhilanthropic Advisor & Author
A much-needed wake-up call
Americans haven't stopped caring. They've changed how they give. Derric Bakker's Restoring the Joy of Generosity is a much-needed wake-up call to rethink how we engage donors, rediscover human connection, and unleash a tsunami of generosity that could transform our country.
Nick BlackFounder & CEO, GoodUnited; Co-Founder, Stop Soldier Suicide
A practical path to transformational philanthropy
Restoring the Joy of Generosity makes a compelling case that modern fundraising has grown so efficient and transactional that it has stripped away the joy that draws donors in and keeps them giving. Derric Bakker's stories and his Seven Sources of Joy provide a practical path toward transformational philanthropy, where the focus is on the donor's experience and on relationships rather than on the ask alone.
Mark DoboszFounder, Transformational Philanthropy Institute; Author, Beyond the Ask, Beyond the Culture, and The Art of the Invitation
What is joy?
Sometimes you find joy in places happiness won’t go.
Joy is more than happiness or a fleeting good feeling. It’s something deeper – that profound sense of fulfillment that arises from within us when we’re living life at its best.
The Seven Sources of Joy
Devotion
Giving is how I put my beliefs into action.
Doing Good
I feel for others and want to help.
Meaning
My life has purpose.
Identity
This is who I am. This is what I do.
Gratitude
I give because I received.
Recognition
I am important.
Belonging
I am part of something bigger than me.
Dive into the book
Explore why generosity produces joy, where that joy comes from, how modern fundraising too often manages it away, and what it will take to restore it.
Chapter 1 · The dilemmaTwo JourneysTwo couples. Two journeys of generosity. Two very different destinations.
Chapter 2 · The dilemmaAmerica's Other Revolutionary IdeaFirst we democratized philanthropy. Then we industrialized it.
Chapter 3 · The dilemmaWhy Millions of Americans Stopped GivingMaybe Americans aren’t falling out of love with generosity. Maybe they’re just breaking up with nonprofits.
Chapter 4 · The diagnosisThe Hamster WheelWe didn’t stop believing in generosity. We stopped finding time for it.
Chapter 5 · The diagnosisThe Curious Economics of GenerosityWhy does generosity feel so good even when it hurts?
Chapter 6 · The invitationUnreasonable JoyMaybe generosity feels deeply human because it is.
Chapter 7 · The invitationThe Seven Sources of Joy
The sources are already in us. Someone just needs to carry something back.
Chapter 8 · The invitationHow Everyday Giving Can Flourish AgainIt is not about how much people give. It is about how they give.
Chapter 9 · The invitationGenerosity's Greatest GiftA single act of generosity can become a cultural force. Why not be the one?
An excerpt from Restoring the Joy of Generosity
THE STORIES THAT INSPIRED THE BOOK
One couple found joy. The other was robbed of it.
Both came ready to give. What happened next made all the difference.
Meet two couples whose experiences reveal what is at stake when generosity encounters the world.
Free excerpt · No email required
For teams, boards & book clubs
Read together. Rediscover the joy.
Bulk book orders include two downloadable discussion guides to help your group explore the book together.
Derric Bakker has spent more than thirty years exploring what inspires people to give and what generosity makes possible. He is the founder and CEO of DickersonBakker, a nationally recognized firm that helps nonprofits grow and thrive.
He has worked alongside hundreds of organizations and thousands of donors, giving him a front-row seat to the role generosity plays in people’s lives, communities, and society.
What readers said about A Better Way to Fundraise.
★★★★★
“This book flips that outdated mindset on its head. It offers a clear, practical, and deeply human pathway for building and sustaining donor relationships that lead to long term giving.”
STSteve TrautmanReader review
★★★★★
“The central idea is simple but powerful: the future of fundraising belongs to organizations that can scale the behaviors that make major gift fundraising work so well. Listening. Personalization. Gratitude. Stewardship. Trust. Long-term partnership.”
JTJay Tyler BoydReader review
★★★★★
“This one is different — warm, engaging stories reflecting a heartfelt desire to empower non-profits to ease suffering. It’s not really about fundraising tactics — it’s about relationships, stewardship, trust, and human dignity.”
JBJill BReader review
★★★★★
“I really enjoyed this fantastic book. First, it gave me validation that my philosophical approach to fundraising is the right way to do this important work. I’ve had success and joy in my work by building genuine relationships.”
GWGrace WhitmanReader review
★★★★★
“One of the most practical and forward-thinking books I’ve read on the future of philanthropy. Derric Bakker does an excellent job balancing strategy, technology, and the human side of fundraising in a way that feels both actionable and inspiring.”
CCaitlinReader review
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