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Angela Joens

In this course, you will gain an introduction to the basic terminology and concepts in the field, along with an overview of the development cycle from identification and cultivation through stewardship and recognition. You will learn how to develop a case for support, identify and assess prospective donors, match a donor’s interests and needs with your organization’s mission and goals, recognize planned giving benefits to your donors, structure a successful solicitation, and respond to ethical dilemmas. You’ll also examine career opportunities in the field, along with contemporary issues and trends confronting today’s fundraising managers. Throughout the course you’ll gain hands-on practice developing an array of written products for your fundraising and development portfolio.

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Syllabus

Fundraising and Philanthropy
In this module, you will be able to discuss fundraising terminology and be confident interacting with others in the field. You will be able to describe the ethical principles that guide development and fundraising and build a foundation in the development process. You will be able to describe and distinguish between several different types of campaigns, and various ways you can raise money.
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Explores the basic terminology and concepts in fundraising, providing a foundation for beginners
Examines ethical principles that guide fundraising and development
Teaches how to develop a case for support, identify and assess prospective donors, and match donor interests with organizational goals
Covers major gift, planned giving, and corporate giving programs
Provides practical experience in developing written products for fundraising and development portfolios
Examines contemporary issues and trends confronting fundraising managers

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Reviews summary

Solid foundation in fundraising principles

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in the essential principles and practices of fundraising and development. Many found it a great introduction to the field, covering fundamental concepts and terminology effectively. A key highlight frequently mentioned is the opportunity for practical portfolio building through various exercises, which students found highly valuable for career development. The course content covers the core development cycle, from prospect identification to stewardship, and introduces key areas like major gifts and planned giving. While broadly praised for being well-structured and accessible, some reviewers noted that it serves primarily as an overview and may not delve deeply enough for those seeking advanced strategies or already possessing significant prior experience. Overall, it's seen as a largely positive starting point for aspiring fundraising professionals.
Best suited for those new to fundraising.
"As a beginner, I found this course very accessible and not overwhelming."
"If you have prior experience, this might be too basic for you, serving more as a review."
"It's definitely geared towards people starting out in development, not advanced practitioners."
"Great for someone transitioning into the non-profit sector without prior fundraising knowledge."
Covers essential fundraising concepts.
"The course covers the entire development cycle from prospect ID to stewardship and recognition."
"Key topics like major gifts, planned giving, and donor relations were introduced clearly."
"It gave me a good overview of fundraising ethics and career paths in the field."
"Provides a good introduction to different types of campaigns and fundraising methods."
Excellent hands-on exercises included.
"The practical exercises allowed me to start building my fundraising portfolio immediately."
"I appreciated the opportunity to create written materials like a case statement and proposal letter."
"The hands-on activities helped solidify the concepts and are great for showing potential employers."
"Building a portfolio piece by piece was incredibly valuable for practical application."
Provides a strong base for beginners.
"This course gave me a solid foundation in fundraising principles and practices."
"I found it a great introduction for someone completely new to the field of development."
"I now feel much more confident understanding the basics of fundraising."
"Provides a really good groundwork for anyone looking to get into fundraising."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundraising and Development Foundations with these activities:
Complete case statement practice exercises
Practice writing strong case statements
Show steps
  • Review the sample case statements provided
  • Identify the key components of a case statement
  • Brainstorm ideas for your own case statement
  • Outline your case statement
  • Draft your case statement
Learn grant writing basics
Enhance your grant writing skills by following expert tutorials, improving your ability to secure funding for your organization.
Browse courses on Grant Writing
Show steps
  • Seek out online tutorials on grant writing
  • Identify key components of a successful grant proposal
  • Practice writing grant proposals tailored to specific foundations
Develop an Annual Giving Plan Template
Create a step-by-step guide to help organizations plan a successful annual giving campaign.
Browse courses on Annual Giving
Show steps
  • Research best practices for annual giving.
  • Identify target audience and goals.
  • Outline key components of an annual giving plan.
  • Develop a timeline and budget.
  • Create a template for organizations to use.
Eight other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 11 activities
Create donor stewardship strategies
Sharpen your skills in developing and implementing donor stewardship strategies to nurture relationships and cultivate ongoing support.
Browse courses on Donor Relations
Show steps
  • Review different types of donor stewardship strategies
  • Create a personalized stewardship plan for a specific donor persona
Watch a tutorial on major gift solicitation
Learn tips and techniques for soliciting major gifts
Show steps
Develop a Donor Relations Strategy
Create a comprehensive strategy to maintain strong relationships with donors throughout their lifecycle.
Browse courses on Donor Relations
Show steps
  • Review best practices for donor stewardship.
  • Identify key touchpoints for donor engagement.
  • Develop a communication plan and calendar.
  • Create a system for tracking donor interactions.
Plan and Execute a Small-Scale Fundraising Campaign
Create a small-scale fundraising plan based on what you're learning in the course and put it into action, seeing it through completion to gain real-world fundraising experience.
Show steps
  • Establish a goal and target audience for your campaign.
  • Develop a persuasive pitch and marketing strategy.
  • Execute your campaign using multiple channels.
  • Track and evaluate the success of your campaign.
Develop an annual giving campaign
Apply your learning by planning and executing an annual giving campaign, gaining practical experience in donor engagement and fundraising.
Browse courses on Annual Giving
Show steps
  • Determine the goals and objectives of the campaign
  • Identify target audience and develop messaging
  • Create a timeline and budget for the campaign
Practice Writing Case for Support
Simulate a fundraising environment by writing a case document for a made-up organization.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm an organization concept.
  • Develop the organization's mission statement and goals.
  • Write the case for support including fundraising needs.
Mastering Major Gift Solicitation
Enhance your major gift solicitation skills through guided instructions and expert insights.
Show steps
  • Enroll in an online course or workshop on major gift fundraising.
  • Follow tutorials on best practices for donor cultivation.
  • Practice role-playing solicitation scenarios.
  • Seek feedback from experienced fundraisers.
Develop a fundraising plan for a local nonprofit
Apply your knowledge to a real-world project
Show steps
  • Research the organization and its fundraising needs
  • Interview key staff members
  • Develop a fundraising strategy
  • Create a fundraising budget
  • Write a fundraising plan

Career center

Learners who complete Fundraising and Development Foundations will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Fundraising Campaign Manager
Fundraising Campaign Managers plan and implement fundraising campaigns for nonprofit organizations. They may also oversee fundraising staff and volunteers and track campaign progress. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the fundraising campaign process and helps learners identify the essential building blocks for running a successful fundraising campaign.
Major Gifts Officer
Major Gifts Officers cultivate and solicit major donors for nonprofit organizations. They may also manage donor relations and plan and implement fundraising campaigns. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the major gift process and helps learners identify and assess prospective donors.
Donor Relations Manager
Donor Relations Managers manage relationships with donors and ensure that they are satisfied with their giving experience. They may also plan and implement donor appreciation events and programs. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the four pillars of a donor relations program.
Philanthropy Advisor
Philanthropy Advisors help individuals and families develop and implement their charitable giving strategies. They may also advise nonprofit organizations on fundraising and donor relations. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the field of philanthropy and helps learners understand the ethical principles that guide development and fundraising.
Foundation Program Officer
Foundation Program Officers manage grantmaking programs for foundations, which may include reviewing grant proposals and making funding decisions. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the grant writing process and helps learners identify potential funding sources.
Planned Giving Officer
Planned Giving Officers develop and implement planned giving programs for nonprofit organizations. They may also advise donors on estate planning and other financial matters. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the planned giving process and helps learners identify and assess prospective donors.
Database Marketing Manager
Database Marketing Managers use data to create and implement marketing campaigns for nonprofit organizations. They may also manage donor databases and track campaign progress. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the database marketing process and helps learners identify and assess prospective donors.
Development Officer
Development Officers cultivate and solicit major donors, plan and implement fundraising campaigns, and manage donor relations. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the development cycle and helps learners identify and assess prospective donors.
Grant Writer
Grant Writers research and write grant proposals to secure funding for nonprofit organizations and government agencies. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the grant writing process and helps learners identify potential funding sources.
Event Fundraising Manager
Event Fundraising Managers plan and implement fundraising events for nonprofit organizations. They may also oversee event staff and volunteers and track event progress. This course may be useful because it provides an overview of the event fundraising process.
Online Fundraising Manager
Online Fundraising Managers plan and implement online fundraising campaigns for nonprofit organizations. They may also oversee online fundraising staff and volunteers and track campaign progress. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the online fundraising process and helps learners identify and assess prospective donors.
Social Media Fundraising Manager
Social Media Fundraising Managers use social media to raise funds for nonprofit organizations. They may also create and manage social media campaigns and track campaign progress. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the social media fundraising process.
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
Corporate Social Responsibility Managers develop and implement corporate social responsibility programs, which may include fundraising and grantmaking. This course may be helpful because it provides an overview of the field of philanthropy and helps learners understand the ethical principles that guide development and fundraising.
Nonprofit Executive Director
Nonprofit Executive Directors oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations, including fundraising, program development, and financial management. This course may be useful because it provides an overview of the development cycle and helps learners understand the ethical principles that guide development and fundraising.
Fundraising Manager
A Fundraising Manager oversees fundraising campaigns and programs to maximize contributions. They may research potential donors, write grant proposals, and manage donor relationships. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in the development process and provides hands-on practice developing written products for a fundraising portfolio.

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Fundraising and Development Foundations.
Provides a comprehensive guide to major gift fundraising, from developing a strategy to closing the gift. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this important area of fundraising.
Provides a step-by-step guide to grant writing, from identifying funding opportunities to submitting a successful proposal. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this important area of fundraising.
Explores the impact of digital technology on fundraising and philanthropy. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this important trend.
Explores the ethical issues involved in fundraising. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this important topic.
Provides a guide to fundraising for social change organizations. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this important topic.
Provides a practical guide to asking for support, both personally and professionally. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this important skill.
Provides a step-by-step guide to fundraising, from planning and budgeting to donor cultivation and stewardship. It valuable resource for anyone who is new to fundraising or for those who want to improve their skills.

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