If you’re anything like me, when you were in college or away at summer camp, you found it easiest to remember to write home just when your wallet was getting a little thin. Believe it or not, that was your first grant-writing experience. (I hope you were successful!)

Asking for money is never easy, but anyone can acquire the skills to ask like a professional fundraiser. This book tells you how to do that, but like so many important life lessons, you’ll find you learned the basics much earlier in life. In case your memory is fuzzy on what those letters home were like, I’ve included a “Dear Mom and Dad” letter to refresh your memory.