Every story starts somewhere.
For Bob Carter, many of the lessons that shaped his life started long before he knew they were lessons.
That’s Bob on the left, alongside his brother, grandfather and grandmother. Decades before the businesses, the billions raised for causes around the world, the family, the recovery, the spectacular successes and equally spectacular mistakes, there was a curious kid learning from the people around him.
It took him until 80 to finally put some of those stories on paper.
Unfinished arrives November 15, 2026.
Want a head start? Get the first chapters now.
You’ll also be the first to hear when preorders open, where Bob will be signing books, and how to join us for launch.
THIS ISN’T JUST A BOOK ABOUT PHILANTHROPY.
It’s about family and ambition. Leadership and addiction. Money and meaning. Success and failure. Curiosity, recovery, aging, friendship, purpose, and knowing when to stay and when to walk away.
There are billionaires and donkeys. Boardrooms and AA meetings. A few spectacular mistakes. And more than a few stories Bob probably could have kept to himself.
He didn’t.
Part memoir, part leadership book, Unfinished is about what happens when you stop worrying about having all the answers and stay curious enough to keep asking what’s next.
Why write your first book at 80?
“Maybe it took this long for the story to be worth telling.” - Bob Carter
Unfinished isn't a victory lap or a neat collection of answers from someone who has life figured out. Quite the opposite.
It’s a collection of stories from someone who has spent 80 years asking questions, changing his mind, screwing things up, starting over, meeting remarkable people and remaining deeply curious about what might be around the next corner.
And he’s not done yet.
Interview with John Legend & Bob Carter
Early Praise for Unfinished
Bob has been instrumental in creating and bringing the WHO Foundation to life, from its early startup phase to the strong and vital organization it is today.
Beyond being highly professional, he is a wonderful human being and friend whose experiences in difficult, as well as joyful moments of life, are an incredible gift.
His is a story well worth hearing and learning from. We are all better for the fact that Bob Carter is still unfinished.
THOMAS ZELTNER
Founder and Chairman, WHO Foundation
Bob Carter’s legacy lives in the people he believes in and the doors he opens. In 2014, before he knew me personally, Bob championed my invitation to serve on AFP’s Global Board- a turning point that ultimately led to my becoming the first woman of color to serve as its Global Board Chair.
I have experienced firsthand his generosity, his gift for recognizing potential, and his commitment to helping others grow. Unfinished is a fitting title for a man whose influence continues to shape so many lives, including mine. I am honored to call him my friend, my colleague, and ‘my guy.’
BIRGIT SMITH BURTON
Founder & CEO, African American Development Officers Network
AFP Global Board Chair, 2023–2024
GET A HEAD START
We’re sharing the opening chapters of Unfinished now.
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Preorders coming soon.
Meet Bob
Bob Carter is a globally recognized philanthropy advisor, entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Carter, Advancing Philanthropy Worldwide. Over more than five decades, he has helped organizations around the world raise billions of dollars for causes that change lives.
Today, Bob lives in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Carol, and two miniature donkeys who have very little respect for his professional credentials. He remains active in his church, deeply involved in the lives of his sons and grandchildren, and, despite occasional claims to the contrary, not quite retired from Carter.
