New book baby is on the way!

Attention Gentlest of Blog Readers!

My new book baby is on the way from Civil Sector Press! Received cover mock-ups from the publisher today. Pub date is January 20, 2017. Pre-order publicity starts December 12th. Don’t worry. I will definitely keep you posted when that business goes live.  Here’s a sneak peak at the cover.  Early praise has been amazing!  Check it out below.  Holy smokes. We’re coming.

“Gail Picco’s Cap in Hand is a trenchant, acutely observed survey of a surprisingly under-explored global industry: Big Charity. Her background as an activist and fundraiser gives her text authority; her ability to combine baseball metaphors, Shakespearian quotes and a nod to Groucho Marx makes her writing lively and accessible.”

JOAN SULLIVAN, MANAGING EDITOR, NEWFOUNDLAND QUARTERLY

“Gail Picco has a written a book that is essential reading for policymakers and all who are donors to or recipients of the vast Canadian charitable sector.  The sector, as Gail rightly notes, lies “under the radar,” even though its significance is great and its problems troubling.  Having spent most of her life involved with the sector, Gail Picco knows the problems and senses the opportunities.  Her book is an eloquent plea to establish a Canadian charitable sector that is “modern, problem-solving and dynamic” rather than the moribund, status quo oriented, and tax-break-driven model that disappoints and disillusions all of us.”

JOHN ENGLISH, DISTINGUISHED SENIOR FELLOW, MUNK SCHOOL OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS

“Before you next reach into your purse or wallet for a donation, read Gail Picco’s lively, informative and timely look at charitable giving. Prevention beforehand is better than a cure afterwards, though our tax laws discourage the former. In her lively, witty style, Picco shows us how we do-gooders can demand better.”

TOM HAWTHORN, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR

“Canada’s charities have an astonishing quarter trillion dollars in annual revenue, yet we know almost nothing about how they raise, hold or use it or even if it’s money well spent – until now! Veteran fundraiser Gail Picco shines a spotlight into the charity darkness and what you see is surprising as well as disturbing at times. A necessary book, a needed investigation.”

BILL TIELEMAN, POLITICAL COLUMNIST AND STRATEGY CONSULTANT, WEST STAR COMMUNICATIONS, VANCOUVER

“This informative and well-written book is based on Gail Picco’s insightful observations obtained over 25 years working in many facets of the charitable and nonprofit world.  She poses many useful and controversial questions, which should be discussed by everyone. Key are her observations of focusing more on the donor than the beneficiary, the lack of attention to dealing with the root causes, prevention, lack of collaboration, the need for more media involvement and the need to advocate more to effect social change.  As a person who has worked with Gail Picco and has been associated with the sector for many years, I strongly recommend this book.”

CHRIS SNYDER, BESTSELLING AUTHOR ON PERSONAL FINANCE INCLUDING IT’S YOUR MONEY

“Since her earliest days as an activist, Gail Picco has consistently dug deep to understand the roots of injustice. She’s challenged us to be discontented with snipping at the offshoots of evil and to, instead, focus on eradicating its roots. In this courageous and timely book, Gail dares to challenge the charitable sector to dig deep and evaluate its objectives and measures of success.”

DENNY YOUNG, PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND PROFESSOR, FUNDRAISING MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, HUMBER COLLEGE

“I’ve always believed that being a philanthropist involves more than simple charity. To me, the most effective philanthropy is about addressing root causes of problems, about empowerment, justice and social change. I have worked side-by-side with Gail Picco as we sought to bring about change in Regent Park, Canada’s oldest public housing project, a project that today leads the world in inner city transformation. Now Gail has written a book that draws a comprehensive picture of charity in Canada and around the world. The book zeros in on charity vs. social change, treatment vs. prevention and handouts vs. empowerment. It shows us what we can do to positively impact the lives of millions of people around the world. This is important work. All I can say is, “Brava!”

MITCHELL COHEN, PRESIDENT & CEO, THE DANIELS CORPORATION

 

“The charitable and nonprofit sector is key element in society.  But, as Gail Picco so persuasively argues in Cap in Hand, in many ways it doesn’t function as well as it could, and needs to, in order to meet the challenges we face.  I know from working in the sector with Gail for the past 25 years that she is one of its leading practitioners and one of the most progressive thinkers we have.  Smart and successful clients have listened to her advice for years. So should we all.”

BOB PENNER, PRESIDENT & CEO, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS INC.

‘“Gail Picco has worked with many international NGOs and brings a nuanced and powerful critique to the table. I have worked with her and know her well. From a deeply ingrained sense of activism, she is courageous, boundary pushing, inquiring and willing to challenge conventional thinking. This book is brave, searching and necessary. It comes at the right time, from the right place, for all the right reasons.”

NICOLE SALMON, FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT, BOUNDLESS PHILANTHROPY

Gail Picco is a strategist and nonprofit executive who has worked in the charity sector for 25 years, most of which as President of Gail Picco Associates. Prior to establishing Gail Picco Associates, she spent eight years working in a shelter for assaulted women and children. She is the author of What the Enemy Thinks, a recent novel set in the nonprofit sector, of Your Working Girl, a blog of memoir and commentary on politics, charity and popular culture, and writes a regular column for Hilborn Charity News. She is a Principal with The Osborne Group in Toronto and Chair of the Regent Park Film Festival. http://www.gailpicco.com