Because an ongoing and effective major gift solicitation program can, and will produce a very large block of capital for your nonprofit organization on a regular basis. And such a program can give your organization these funds with a relatively small investment of time and money being needed, as compared to return you will get.

Here are some guidelines to help you set up your major gift program, or obtain more funds from program you are already using:

1. Set up a major gift committee, which should include your board chairman, two or three other board members, and your executive director. This committee could also include two or three community leaders or movers and shakers in your community. With main idea here being that those who solicit major gifts for your organizations should be at or near same social-economic level as those they will be soliciting for major gifts.

2. Survey your universe of major donors and donor prospects by carefully reviewing your own donor data bases for moderate donors with a regular history of making larger than usual gifts, and of course those who have already made major gifts to your organization.

So what does this mean for us entrepreneurs? The answer is very simple. Do not give up. Even when it appears that you are losing game, you can still win match. I looked at triumphant Venus, and you know what I thought – She is a true winner. Not just because she won Wimbledon, but because she didn't give up when it looked like she was going to be defeated. And as business owners, we have to have that same outlook. When it looks like we are going to be defeated – go bankrupt – don't just give up. When our client base is shrinking, rather than expanding – don't give up. When our cash flow gets too low, don't give up. Venus's victory has taught me, a struggling entrepreneur, four important lessons that I would like to share:

Lesson #1: Persevere

There will be times when things will not go your way. But all champions, including Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and even Venus Williams, have lost. But did that stop them. No. They just persevered. Remember, in high school Michael Jordan was cut for basketball team. And Mohammad Ali fought fight of his life against George Foreman at "Thrilla in Manila". And Venus commented when asked what she was thinking today when she was losing, " Keep fighting." And that is what we all must do – keeping fighting. When one door shuts, knock on other until someone opens up. I will never forget when a client of mine said reason my company ultimately got contract was because I was so persistent. As business owners, we must continue to follow though in order to get what we want. Don't give up. If a customer doesn't buy from us today, that does not mean they will not buy our product or service tomorrow. It may just need be right time. That is why following up is so important. Don't make a pest of yourself, though. Through trial and error learn how frequently to contact a prospective customer. And also remember that just because one customer hasn't bought what we are selling, does mean that someone else won't. We need to persevere until we achieve our goals.

Lesson #2: Be Thankful

Sometimes when we are going through tough times, we may lose sight of all good things in life. Are you healthy? Do you have a loving family? Do you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food in your belly? Well, believe it or not, than you are doing better that most of world? And no matter what, we all have something or someone to be thankful of. Isn't it interesting that first thing Venus did was to thank God. Because through God, all things are possible. God can do what no man can. And it no wonder that most of people in this society we consider to be winners understand this. As Oprah Winfrey says, "God can dream a bigger dream for you than you could ever dream for yourself." And Oprah's life certainly serves as a great example.