Fundraising and Development Foundations from Coursera

What's inside

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.

Case for Support, Prospect Identification, and Annual Giving

In this module, you will be able to define and describe the components of an effective case statement, and be able to distinguish between an organizations vision, goals, and objectives. You will be able to create variations on your case statement, and identify potential prospects for your organization. You will be able to discuss annual giving campaigns and be able to plan and build a base of support for your organization's fundraising programs.

Major Gift, Planned Giving, Foundations and Corporate Giving Programs

In this module, you will be able to differentiate between major gifts and planned giving. You will be given an overview of the major gift process and then be able to discuss how to cultivate and solicit major donors. You will be able to identify how to establish a planned giving program and potential prospects. You will identify the role that foundation and corporate support plays in a development program and be able to describe the basics of the grant writing process.

Donor Relations and Fundraising Campaigns

In this module, you will be able to describe the four pillars of a donor relations program. You will be able to differentiate the various types of fundraising campaigns and identify the essential building blocks for running a successful fundraising campaign. You will be able to write a proposal letter to solicit funds for a charity event that your organization is hosting.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

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

Reviews summary

Comprehensive fundraising foundations

Learners say that this highly-rated fundraising foundations course is well-paced and provides a comprehensive overview of fundraising and development. The course's strengths include its engaging videos, peer-reviewed assignments, and practical exercises that help learners apply what they learn. Although some learners found the peer review process less than helpful, the majority of learners report that they enjoyed the course and found it to be well-structured and informative.

Interesting and informative video lectures.

"I enjoyed learning the topics and felt like I had a good overview."

"A great course and a great achievement coming at the right time."

Hands-on exercises that reinforce key concepts.

"Engaging learning assessments."

"It was very helpful to review the work of other students as well as receive feedback on my work."

Well-paced with clear learning objectives.

"The course and assignments were well paced."

"I appreciated that I had to take notes and read the transcript or listen carefully to get the full context of what was being taught."

Covers a wide range of fundraising and development topics.

"This was a very good introduction into the world of fundraising and development."

"I had always wondered how to raise more funds for my organization until I found this Fundraising and Development foundation program."

Opportunities to provide and receive feedback from peers.

"I think that some of the information was subjective and that the quizzes did not always indicate the information that had been relayed."

"I also don't think the peer review process was very effective and was disappointed in the quality of work that was submitted by other learners."

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

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Practice writing strong case statements

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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

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Enhance your grant writing skills by following expert tutorials, improving your ability to secure funding for your organization.

Browse courses on Grant Writing

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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

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Create a step-by-step guide to help organizations plan a successful annual giving campaign.

Browse courses on Annual Giving

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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

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Create donor stewardship strategies

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Sharpen your skills in developing and implementing donor stewardship strategies to nurture relationships and cultivate ongoing support.

Browse courses on Donor Relations

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Review different types of donor stewardship strategies
Create a personalized stewardship plan for a specific donor persona

Watch a tutorial on major gift solicitation

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Learn tips and techniques for soliciting major gifts

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Develop a Donor Relations Strategy

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Create a comprehensive strategy to maintain strong relationships with donors throughout their lifecycle.

Browse courses on Donor Relations

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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

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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.

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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

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Apply your learning by planning and executing an annual giving campaign, gaining practical experience in donor engagement and fundraising.

Browse courses on Annual Giving

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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

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Simulate a fundraising environment by writing a case document for a made-up organization.

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Brainstorm an organization concept.
Develop the organization's mission statement and goals.
Write the case for support including fundraising needs.

Mastering Major Gift Solicitation

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Enhance your major gift solicitation skills through guided instructions and expert insights.

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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

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Apply your knowledge to a real-world project

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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:

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Major Gifts Officer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Donor Relations Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fundraising Campaign Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Marketing Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Fundraising Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Development Officer

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.

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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Fundraising Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Online Fundraising Manager

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.

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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Planned Giving Officer

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.

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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fundraising Manager

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.

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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Executive Director