Cheryl Anderson,
Special Gifts Outreach, Save the Children
Westport, CT
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“I just wanted to take a quick moment to let you know how blessed I am by your work! I am just starting as a motivational/ transformational trainer and coach, with a focus on urban/inner cities. So many people there have great dreams and ideas of the difference they would like to make in their own communities but don’t quite know how you ask for the support they need. I have recently been sharing your book with them—and even did a workshop about clearing their limiting beliefs about asking for support. Not a dry eye in the house. 
Thank you so much! I will be looking for how I can learn even more about your techniques so that I can share it with my community. What a blessing you and your work are!”
Kindest regards,
Kim Anthony
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“I heard Laura speak at a CEO retreat on staying positive and engaging the Board to help with fundraising in these tough times. The next day we had a board meeting and we gave a strong pep talk, a list of ideas for giving and getting in hard times and then asked them to write down 2-3 “stretch” ideas that they could do this year. Well it it worked because one board member doubled his annual gift and another went up 50%. And every board member gave us a list of specific steps they would take to support our fundraising —making thank you calls, hosting dinners, etc..”
William M. Abrams, President
Trickle Up – The first steps out of Poverty
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“Laura’s insights into fund-raising during economically challenging times have been very useful. More than that, she provides perspective, setting a tone for an honest, yet optimistic, approach to economic challenges. This helps the fund-raiser through leading by example. More importantly, it gives all confidence to ask and to give. I highly recommend Laura to any group in need of an intelligent “pick-me-up” in their fund-raising efforts.”
Lynne Rathgeber
, Board President
Chatham Day School, New Jersey
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“Just a note to thank you for your presentation at the AFP Tri-State Summit yesterday. Your concrete, actionable suggestions were terrific. When you covered the idea of smaller cultivation events, I thought of a new approach for my organization specifically: Much of our programming focuses on Arts Education, and there is solid research showing that arts education builds the critical thinking, collaborative, and creative problem-solving skills that will comprise a successful “innovation workforce” for the future. We also enjoy going to work every day in the first “green” building in our small city. So while you were talking, it occurred to me that we could invite representatives from area corporations—whether they are pioneering new technologies or are innovators in a more traditional field—to tour our building and discuss our Arts Education program and the ways in which we focus on innovation and sustainability. My hope is that this focused group will connect with our mission and our Arts Education Director’s continuous, forward-thinking program development. I’ll keep you posted on the outcome of this effort, but I wanted to thank you for sharing your expertise and sparking the idea.”
Kind regards,
Kathleen Hofmann,
Development Director
Arts Council of the Morris Area
, Morristown, New Jersey
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“I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much I enjoyed your recent session at the AFP Congress 2008 in Toronto. I found your session to be enlightening, informative and entertaining! I must confess that I was a bit concerned that a 3 1/2 hour session on one subject might be a bit overwhelming. However, those 3 1/2 hours went by faster than my annual vacation! I look forward to hearing you speak again soon.”
Best regards,
Brad Moore, Sr. Developement Officer
Donations
TVO—Educational Media Organization
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“Your story about the major donor who would “never have enough money” was a major learning for me. Obviously, it was a pleasure to hear you speak again and as I also felt after your time with my NYU class I came away with more excitement towards what I do and how I can do it better. As a fundraising professional, I always say the best part of my job is the people I get to meet and you are on my list of favorites.”
Kristen Kentner
Manager of Special Events & Corporate Relations
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“If ever you are seeking a dynamic, speaker to motivate your Reps during the High Point Market, I whole heartedly recommend Laura Fredricks from first hand experience. Last Friday, I heard Laura speak at the Association for Fundraising Professionals Seminar held in Charleston, SC. She was outstanding and inspired everyone in the room. While listening to her, I instantly recalled the dynamic speakers you hired to motivate your reps during market. I always appreciated being a part of your team and still value today what you as an organization did for me during years I represented Global Views. At the end of the seminar, I spoke with Laura and asked her to email me what she would do to relate and inspire someone on the Home Accessory or for that matter any industry. In addition, I am thoroughly enjoying reading her book called, The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose I wanted to encourage you to connect and speak with her when your schedule permits. She inspired me! I am absolutely confident she will excite and motivate the reps should you hire her for the fall market.”
Karen Plaehn, Charleston, SC
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“I had the opportunity to attend two of the sessions you presented at the AFP Conference and found the information at both to be very beneficial. The content of the sessions fit very well with our current resource development work at Good Samaritan Society. I will be speaking with some of the Resource Development Coordinators at our Centers in North Dakota and would like to show them the hand out from the “Turning Annual Donors Into Major Gifts Prospects” session. I did not know if I should ask for your permission to do that or not so I’m being safe and asking if that would be ok. Thank you for your time to present to us in San Diego. Your sessions were by far my favorite and most valuable.”
Jolene Sjostrom, Resource Development Consultant
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Foundation
4230 Hwy 281 SE, Jamestown, ND 58401
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“Dear Laura,
You were such a pleasure to work with. I enjoyed meeting and learning from you. You have a wonderful way about you.I will look forward to hearing of your success and have already been passing on “Laura said” bits of wisdom.”
Warm regards, Lesley
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“Thanks so much for being a presenter at the AFP NJ Conference on Philanthropy. Though I’ve heard you speak three times before I always learn something new and useful. I’ve read your book, Developing Major Gifts, and am starting your book, The Ask. I’m sure there is lots of good stuff inside. You were a hit at the conference! Best wishes.”
Michael J. David-Wilson,
CFRE, Conference Chair, FP NJ 2007
Conference on Philanthropy/Executive Director, Middlesex County College Foundation
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“Thanks for your book, The Ask. I finished it this weekend and have already put many of your suggestions into practice. I’m a small one-man shop and only two years into fulltime development work. I love it and your book will help me succeed. Can’t wait for the next one! I will reread your book again soon and continue to evolve our processes to include your methods. Thanks.”
Patrick O’Donnell, Executive Director
Mission Advancement
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“Dear Laura, I just want to tell you how great it was to hear you speak once again today and I am so glad my colleagues at ADL had the opportunity to hear you and benefit from your expertise. It is so much more than that, though, that you bring to your presentations. It is your enthusiasm for the profession, your “can-do,” optimistic and positive approaches to the task of asking for money that are so amazingly helpful and refreshing. You also give concrete strategies that I know will help our regional staff to be even more successful. It always revitalizes me to hear you and gives me renewed vigor for the writing that I do. I am no longer going head to head with donors in person since I am doing foundation fundraising here at ADL. But I try to visualize who I am directing my documents to in a way that helps me communicate the need and the message in a way I hope is compelling and will bring in the grant! I am never hesitant to ask in writing!!! It’s so much easier…. Congratulations on another terrific presentation.”
Shirley J. Longshore
Director of National Grant Proposals & Initiatives
Anti-Defamation League
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“Thank you for your presentation ‘Ask-for Yourself!’ I enjoyed your remarks both during the talk and your comments afterwards. I also appreciated your advice on building major gifts as I am now developing that program for my organization. Thanks for your energy and insights!”
Chris Heeg, Major Gifts Officer
The Trust for Public Land