"The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money." Mark Twain in Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar Mark Twain captured the inner fear of almost every non-profit board member. "I know...

The information in this article is a free gift to you. The gift is not from me but from one who loves you and your ministry far more than I. Let me explain.In March of 2000, I was serving as development director for a large pregnancy resource center in Greenville, South Carolina. On this particular ...

In 1870, Russell H. Conwell hired an Arab guide to sail him down the Tigris River to Bagdad, Nineveh, and Babylon. His guide was a non-stop storyteller that drove Conwell crazy, so he just tuned him out. But then, one particular tale captured Conwell's attention... and changed his life.An ancient Pe...

Fundraising is exhausting, especially when you ask and ask and come up empty. As much as you keep smiling in the face of adversity, rejection is hard to take. It's discouraging to scan your database and find a drought of major donors. Raising money becomes even more staggering when you feel like you...

In my first week as a professional beggar, I hit a mental block. Theoretically, the first few gifts I raised for the ministry were really just covering my salary which felt like I was asking for my own personal benefit. You might experience the same hesitancy until you think through the logic of ste...