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Course Description

The Certificate in Professional Fundraising Program online covers the following topics. Each of these topics is explored through the lens of inclusivity.

Foundations of Fundraising

Students will explore the history, philosophy, ethics and impact of fundraising and its role in society. The program covers all aspects of the field of philanthropy and how they are connected across educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits. We will explore the critical roles that people have in this field from volunteers to paid professionals and from organizational support to the frontline.

Prospect Research

This area of development addresses individual, corporate, and foundation research, proactive and reactive research and the effective use of data systems to enhance efficiency and productivity. Also discussed is the selection and use of research tools to optimize efforts and effective information management.

Annual Giving

This component covers the role of annual giving, direct mail, and telemarketing campaigns, as well as social media campaigns, gift clubs, matching gifts, membership campaigns, passive appeals, corporate affiliate programs, reporting, and evaluation.

Development Communications

This component covers all aspects of communication in fundraising. You will learn to write a fundraising appeal and how to develop a communications calendar. You will also learn about the different media used to communicate for different purposes, including print, e-mail, and social media.

Major Gifts

Topics covered in this component include the continuum of giving, building prospect portfolios, prospect rating, prospect strategy development, cultivation and marketing, making the ask, closing, acknowledgement, recognition, continuing stewardship, managing a major gifts staff, reporting, and evaluation.

Planned Giving

In this component, students will investigate structuring a planned giving program, planned giving timelines, identifying planned giving prospects, gift vehicles such as annuities, trust, and bequests, assets used in planned gifts and marketing strategies and materials.

Foundations and Corporations

Topics covered in this component of the program include structuring an institutional support program, grant writing, staffing, networking, research, sponsorships, corporate affiliate programs, gifts-in kind/intellectual, and property.

Capital Campaign

Topics covered include setting goals and priorities, creating timelines, leading volunteers, staffing, marketing, creating a case statement, donor constituencies, gift pyramids, capital gift vehicles, and restricted and unrestricted gifts.

Support Services

Support services like gift processing and financial planning play a key role in effective fundraising. Information management and communications also contribute to an effective development organization. These topics are explored in this module, along with effective volunteer management, the lifeblood of non-profit organizations both big and small. Internal and external leadership, boards of directors, special events, and volunteer leadership challenges will also be covered.  You will work on developing the case for a special event for your organization.

Volunteer Leadership

This module is about how organizations approach volunteer leadership.  You will create a list of typical responsibilities that board members for a nonprofit organization would have, and how the board evolves as well as how to recruit them to volunteer on your behalf.

Management and Accountability

This topic addresses how development processes are managed, including gift processing, gift reporting, stewardship and donor relations, and endowment management. Also covered are ethics in fundraising, successful development communications, and managing volunteers, boards, and other key players.

Fundraising Summary

You will get to apply what you have learned to actual situations that occur in the fundraising environment and you will get access to helpful professional resources.  As we wrap up the course you will put together what you learned and determine how you will use this new knowledge in your current or future profession.

In each module, we will highlight technology applications that enable organizations to maximize impact in the most efficient (and cost-effective) ways. You will also be exposed to career paths and jobs that exist in each of these areas.

Accrediting Associations

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in
Section Title
Professional Fundraising
Type
Online, fixed date
Dates
Jan 14, 2025 to Apr 07, 2025
Contact Hours
80.0
Delivery Options
Cohort Online  
Course Fee(s)
OPFR Tuition credit (0 to 8.4 units) $2,495.00 Click here to get more information
Available for Credit
0 to 8.4 units
Reading List / Textbook

All material is available online in the course.  No additional texts are required.

Section Notes

The Professional Fundraising course utilizes our Online Campus (Blackboard) for all course content. Students enrolled in Online Campus will see two courses – Orientation and Professional Fundraising – on their Courses Dashboard on the day each course opens. 
 
Orientation will open and appear on the Online Campus Courses Dashboard on January 7 at 10:00am ET. Orientation is designed to help you navigate Online Campus, submit assignments and assessments, post to Discussion Boards, and communicate with your instructors. Orientation is mandatory and must be completed before you begin your course. 
 
NOTE: Orientation is not program specific. Students registered in CPE programs are enrolled in Orientation together. 
 
Your Professional Fundraising course will open and appear on the Courses Dashboard in Online Campus on January 14 at 10:00am ET.  
 
You will receive additional information on creating your Boston University account and accessing Online Campus once you have successfully registered for a course. The email you use to register for a course will be your username for your BU account. Please create your account and complete orientation before your course start date. 
 
When enrolling in the Professional Fundraising course you will be asked about any prior affiliation with Boston University. You must complete the Prior Affiliation section of the registration form. Any prior affiliation with Boston University that is not noted in your registration can prevent access to Online Campus when your course opens. 

Accrediting Associations
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