Developing Annual Sustainability

Successful fundraising is an ongoing process. As you continue to identify new donors, you also need to maintain good relations with current donors and encourage them to repeat and increase their giving. Learn and strengthen the fundraising skills that can sustain your organization including direct mail, online giving, major gifts and special events.

2026 Revision (Three-Day Course)
An expanded version of the original two-day course, this three-day program adds updated content on digital engagement, donor psychology, AI tools, and ethical fundraising, with a focus on hands-on planning and strategy.

Certificates: Fund Raising Management,

Course Details

Please review the attendance policy and cancellation/transfer policy before registering.

Schedule

Developing Annual Sustainability is offered in the following three formats:

In-person Schedule
The in-person class is two days in length.

Day 1: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Day 2: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

2026 Revision (Three-Day Course)
An expanded version of the original two-day course, this three-day program adds updated content on digital engagement, donor psychology, AI tools, and ethical fundraising, with a focus on hands-on planning and strategy.

Online (Asynchronous) Schedule
The online course is four weeks in length.
The online course changes to a six week course in 2026.

Each week you’ll have a course module to complete. Each module consists of:

• readings from a PDF study guide
• viewing a pre-recorded narrated presentation
• completing a 10-question quiz where you must score a 7 or higher
• engaging in forum discussions with others
• and submitting assignments.

More details about the online format and requirements may be viewed here.

Virtual (Live) Schedule
The live, virtual class is held over four sessions from 2pm to 5pm Eastern and hosted using the Zoom platform. More details about the virtual format and requirements may be viewed here.

The October 16-November 6, 2025 virtual class will be held on the following dates:
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Thursday, November 6, 2025

The April 28-June 2, 2026 virtual class will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Agenda

For the complete course agenda, email tfrs@iu.edu.

Location

The location next to each course date indicates if the course is being held in-person (e.g. city name) or online.

For in-person classes, please click on the city name for further details and recommended hotel accommodations.

Registrants for in-person, online, and virtual dates will receive complete course logistical information upon registration.

CFRE Education Points

Full participation in many of The Fund Raising School’s courses fulfill education point requirements for Category 1.B-Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

Developing Annual Sustainability qualifies for 13.5 CFRE Education Points/Hours.

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTE: Tuition payment is due before the class begins and may be paid by credit card or check. All cancellations and transfers are subject to an administrative fee of $275.

The Fund Raising School and its faculty assume a baseline knowledge of the concepts and terminology from “Principles & Techniques of Fundraising” in teaching this course.

Create an annual fund that sustains your organization

Learn how to develop a broad, enduring base of supporters and meet your fundraising goals from one year to the next. Involve your staff, your board and other volunteers to identify, cultivate and ask for gifts from new donors while renewing and receiving larger gifts from current donors.

Who should attend

Development officers, annual fund campaign staff, board members, volunteers, prospect researchers, program officers, department heads, and financial officers.

Participants must stay through the end of the class in order to receive Continuing Education Units and the Certificate of Completion. Travel arrangements and other appointments should be scheduled around class times. The course will adjourn at 5 p.m. on the last day.

You’ll learn how to

• Determine which strategies to use and when to use them
• Manage your time effectively
• Make a convincing case for support
• Create gift range charts for planning
• Get volunteers actively involved with your fundraising
• Use the annual fund to support a total development program

You’ll also learn

• How to put together an annual fund by using worksheets
• How to assess the cost efficiency and effectiveness of your annual fund

What you’ll receive

• An easy-to-use, comprehensive study guide to use for future reference
• Checklists for organizing special events
• Training exercises to use in your workplace
• Planning tools for your direct mail program
• Tips from annual fund specialists