Laura Fredricks, JD, is an expert fundraising consultant, international inspirational and motivational speaker, and best- selling author. She is the owner of her own boutique consulting company that provides training, coaching and proven best practices to a select number of non-profits and businesses, to raise significant money, efficiently and effectively, from a variety of existing and new sources.

Her best sellers include “The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose“ (Jossey Bass 2006), and “Developing Major Gifts: Turning Small Donors into Big Contributors (Jones and Bartlett 2001). Laura’s new book is due out January 2010: How to ASK for your Non Profit; your Creative Project; and your Business Venture.

Since 1994, Laura has been teaching nonprofit business management; leadership; fundraising trends; annual, major gift, planned giving, special events; and capital campaign courses on a certification and master’s degree level for University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, New York University, Duke University, and the Smithsonian Institution. Her speaking engagements include yearly presentations at the Association of Fundraising Professional’s (AFP) International Conference; eight International AFP Web Conferences; and keynote speaking presentations for numerous AFP Chapters nationwide as well as the Council for Support for Advancement and Education; Planned Giving Councils; Women in Development ; and a Master’s Class on “The Ask” at the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands. In 2009, Laura was invited by the Universities Australia to make several presentations to the communications, marketing, and development staffs on lessening the cultural barriers that prevent asking for money, while providing solid strategies on how everyone within the organization can have an important role in raising money.

She has trained numerous boards and CEO’s from national and international organizations to utilize their business and leadership skills to raise unrestricted and restricted money as well as worked with small and comprehensive development staffs and volunteers so that each organization is functioning as a cohesive fundraising team.

From 2002-2008, Laura was Vice President for Philanthropy, at Pace University in New York, NY, where she raised over $92 million in six years for Pace’s Centennial Capital Campaign. She oversaw all aspects of fundraising, alumni relations, and special events for a staff of 35 on five campuses.

Previously she served as Associate Vice President for Development at Temple University, Philadelphia, where she managed and coordinated the major and planned giving programs, corporate and foundation funding, and alumni relations for 15 schools and colleges, two hospitals, and the athletic program. Prior positions include Major Gifts Manager for Deborah Hospital Foundation; Assistant Director of Development for Temple University’s School of Medicine; and Director of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.

Laura is a communications graduate of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ, and holds a law degree from Western New England College School of Law. Prior to her fundraising career, she clerked for an appellate court judge in Pennsylvania, and practiced law for over six years as a Deputy Attorney General IV for the Attorney General’s Office, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specializing in civil litigation.

Her community involvement includes serving as a board member for Cherry Lane Theater, NY; a board member for the AFP Greater New York Chapter; an advisory board member for New York University and Columbia University’s Masters in Fundraising Programs; and a volunteer for the Bedford, Barrow, Commerce Block Association, NY, and the Caring Community, NY.

Laura can be reached at www.laura-fredricks.com.

Paula Harper Bethea is Executive Director of the South Carolina Education Lottery. Mrs. Bethea was one of nine South Carolinians chosen to establish the Lottery in 2001 and is active in numerous local, state and national organizations.

Mrs. Bethea is Chairman of the Centers for Economic Excellence Board and is a member of the Board of New Carolina. Mrs. Bethea chairs The Caring Coins Foundation on Hilton Head Island and is immediate past Chair of the Board of the Hilton Head Regional Medical Center. She is Vice-Chairman of the Board of First Financial Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, First Federal of Charleston, and she is a Founding Board Member of the Palmetto Institute where she serves as Secretary. She is a life member of Independent Colleges and Universities of South Carolina; a member of the Board of the MCI Heritage Classic Foundation; a Member Emeritus of the Board of the MUSC Foundation at the Medical University of South Carolina. Mrs. Bethea is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Presbyterian College and Vice-Chairman of the Board of the South Carolina Research Foundation. She is a past Chair of the Board of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Columbia College (1998-2000) and of the Heart and Vascular Center at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Mrs. Bethea serves as Chair Emeritus of the United Way of America's Board of Governors, having been Chair in 1996-1997. As a member of the Board of Governors, she served as Chair of the National Initiatives Committee, the United Ways’ Leadership Conference, and the Community Impact Committee. She was also the United Way Liaison to the NFL and a member of the Board of United Way International. In addition to her national leadership, Mrs. Bethea serves as a former Chair of the United Way of South Carolina, and former Chair of the United Way of Beaufort County.

In addition, Mrs. Bethea is a former Board Chair of the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce; former member of the South Carolina State Ethics Commission, the Cultural Council of Hilton Head Island, and the Hilton Head Health Foundation, where in 1985 she co-chaired the successful 3.5 Million Dollar Partners for Life Campaign for the Hilton Head Hospital. In 1991, Mrs. Bethea served as a member of the South Carolina State Chamber's Task Force for Restructuring State Government, and was a member and subcommittee Chair of the Governor's Commission on Restructuring.

Mrs. Bethea was named Zonta Club's Woman of the Year in 1984, Hilton Head Island's Citizen of the Year in 1985 and was presented the South Carolina Jaycee's Outstanding Young American for Community Service Award as well as the South Carolina Women of Achievement Award in 1995. In 1992, Governor Carroll Campbell honored her with the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest award for volunteer service to the State. She was awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in 1998 by the University of South Carolina and in 2003, she was awarded the Columbia College Medallion – the most distinguished commendation bestowed by the College. In 2006, Paula and her husband Bill were South Carolina’s Business Leaders of the Year.

Mrs. Bethea was born in Hampton County, South Carolina, and graduated from Estill High School. In 1975, she graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina and moved to Hilton Head Island in 1977. Paula is married to William L. Bethea, Jr., and they reside in Bluffton, South Carolina.