Professional Development

Fundraising Course Descriptions

Marketing Nonprofit Organizations (FDR 5103)
This course will provide insight into how to market nonprofit organizations to generate needed publicity and resources. Participants will benefit through the use of specific examples and examination of examples of successful marketing strategies.

Grant Writing Basics (FDR 5104)
This course will help students learn how to write grant proposals. Using interactive and small group work, participants will learn the elements of a proposal, what makes a proposal effective, and how to develop a strategy for highlighting what is unique and effective about their program. By the end of the course, students will have developed the outline of a grant proposal.

Public Policy and Fundraising: Making the Connections (FDR 5105)
Public policy influences the lives of all service providers and the communities they serve. Whether operating with state contracts, or serving a population that is reliant on publicly funded services, many providers want public policy makers to hear their perspective, yet remain unsure of how to effectively communicate their message. This course will help service providers influence the public policies that affect their work, and improve the ability of their organizations to raise funds in the process.

Planning for Major Events (FDR 5106)
What makes a successful event? How do you guarantee an enjoyable time for your guests? Is it the location? The program? Quality of the food or the nature of the entertainment? This course will provide students with the essential elements needed for planning a successful event.

Advanced Grant Writing (FDR 5107)
This course will enable nonprofit professionals to become accomplished grant writers. Participants will gain strong knowledge of grant funding and the skills needed to develop a successful proposal. Participants will leave with a complete grant application suitable for submitting to a private foundation, as well as a personalized library of resources for further skill development and identification of new sources of grant funding.

Prospecting for Foundation Grants (FDR 5108)
This course will prepare nonprofit professionals to learn the skills needed to use three primary online resources of information (The Foundation Center, Guidestar, and The Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts) in finding sources of grant funding. During the course, participants will use services normally reserved for subscribers. By the end of the course, participants will have a tailored list of prospects for their project, and a working knowledge of how to glean information specific to their needs from these sources.

Conducting Capital Campaigns (FDR 5109)
Organizations often undertake multi-million dollar capital campaigns. This course is designed to walk participants through the key phases in planning and implementing a capital campaign.

Raising Funds from Individuals (FDR 5110)
There are many ways to raise funds from individuals. You will leave this seminar with a basic understanding of how and why individuals give financial support to organizations. This seminar will prepare you to establish a comprehensive program of soliciting support from individuals. You will leave this seminar understanding both the organizational skills and the personal skills necessary to raise money from individuals.

The Annual Campaign: Taking the Mystery out of Fundraising (FDR 5111)
This course will focus on how to conduct an annual campaign. It will review the creation of a campaign calendar, recruitment of annual campaign leadership, utilization of volunteers, event management, and the creation of collateral materials. Discussions will include how to create a case for support, how to train volunteer solicitors in techniques of personal solicitation as well as phone solicitation. The course will also focus on practical solutions to fundraising challenges; it will provide participants with templates and materials that can easily be adapted to any organization.