Principles & Techniques of Fundraising

Maximize your fundraising success through this timeless course that teaches the tried-and-true practical skills of effective fundraising. Strengthen your fundraising abilities by learning proven fund development tools, and draft a specific fundraising plan to grow your organization. This course serves as the foundation for the rest of the curriculum. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a digital copy of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, fifth edition, the go-to reference for fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques.

Certificates:

When and where

LocationDatePriceRegistration
October 9, 2023October 12, 2023$1,695One seat left! Please email tfrs@iupui.edu for regisgration details.
October 16, 2023October 19, 2023$1,695Register
November 6, 2023November 9, 2023$1,695Register
November 13, 2023November 16, 2023$1,695Register
December 11, 2023December 14, 2023$1,695Register
January 16, 2024January 19, 2024$1,695Register
January 22, 2024January 25, 2024$1,695Register
January 29, 2024March 24, 2024$1,745Register
February 19, 2024February 22, 2024$1,695Register
February 27, 2024April 16, 2024$1,695Register
March 4, 2024March 7, 2024$1,695Register
March 11, 2024March 14, 2024$1,695Register
April 8, 2024April 11, 2024$1,695Register
April 15, 2024June 9, 2024$1,745Register
May 6, 2024May 9, 2024$1,695Register
May 13, 2024May 16, 2024$1,695Register
June 3, 2024June 6, 2024$1,695Register

Schedule and Agenda

Principles & Techniques of Fundraising is offered in the following three formats:

The in-person class is four days in length.

Day 1: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Day 2: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Day 3: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Day 4: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Day 1 Agenda
8:00 Registration Check-in
8:30 Opening Session
Introductions
Expectations and Challenges
Course Overview
The Cube
Philanthropy, Development, and Fundraising
The Fundraising Cycle
10:00 Break
10:15 The Philanthropic Landscape
Research on Philanthropic Giving
Understanding the External Environment
Fundraising as an Exchange of Values
Cube: Institutional Readiness
11:45 Lunch
1:00 The Case for Support
Cube: Institutional Readiness
2:45 Break
3:00 Constituency Markets
Focus on individuals as constituency for fundraising
Cube: Institutional Readiness, Markets, and Vehicles
4:45 Day 1 Debrief
5:00 Adjourn
Day 2 Agenda
8:30 Previous Day Review
8:45 The Annual Fund Program
Cube: Vehicles
10:00 Break
10:15 Building the Base of Support
Focus on digital fundraising, direct mail, and special events
Cube: Vehicles
11:45 Lunch
1:00 Prospective Donor Research and Major Giving
Cube: Vehicles
2:45 Break
3:00 Planned Giving
Cube: Vehicles
4:45 Day 2 Debrief
5:00 Adjourn
Day 3 Agenda
8:30 Previous Day Review
8:45 Campaigns: Capital to Comprehensive
Cube: Vehicles
10:00 Break
10:15 Fundraising from Corporations and Foundations
Cube: Markets
11:45 Lunch
1:00 Solicitation Exercise
Cube: Dynamic Functions
3:00 Break
3:15 Volunteers, Boards, and the Staff Team
Cube: Human Resources
4:50 Day 3 Debrief
5:00 Adjourn
Day 4 Agenda
8:30 Previous Day Review
8:45 Stewardship
Cube: Institutional Readiness
9:45 Break
10:00 Ethical Fundraising
Cube: Dynamic Fundraising
11:45 Lunch
1:00 Budgeting and Managing
Cube: Management
2:15 Break
2:30 Action Planning
3:45 Application of Principles
Resources Inventory Analysis
Review of Expectations and Obstacles
Preparing a Statement of Objectives
Course Evaluation
Certificates & Celebration
5:00 Adjourn

The asynchronous online course is eight weeks in length.

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.

WEEK 1 INSTITUTIONAL READINESS
Intro to Fundraising, Fundraising Cycle, Philanthropic Landscape

WEEK 2 INSTITUTIONAL READINESS
Case for Support, Constituency Markets

WEEK 3 VEHICLES AND STRATEGIES
Annual Fund and Building the Base of Support

WEEK 4 VEHICLES AND STRATEGIES, DYNAMIC FUNCTIONS
Prospective Donor Research, Major Gifts, & Solicitation

WEEK 5 VEHICLES AND STRATEGIES
Planned Gifts and Capital Campaigns

WEEK 6 MARKETS
Corporate and Foundation Markets

WEEK 7 HUMAN RESOURCES, DYNAMIC FUNCTIONS
Boards, Volunteers, Teams, Ethics

WEEK 8 MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Planning, Budgeting, Managing

To be eligible for the Certificate of Achievement, all coursework must be completed and submitted no later than Sunday of week 8 at 11:59 pm ET. This is a firm deadline and late work will not be accepted.

The live, virtual class is held over eight 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 February 27-April 16, 2024 virtual course will be held on the following dates:

Tuesday, February 27
Tuesday, March 5
Tuesday, March 12
Tuesday, March 19
Tuesday, March 26
Tuesday, April 2
Tuesday, April 9
Tuesday, April 16

WEEK 1
Introductions and Expectations
The Philanthropic Landscape

WEEK 2
Case for Support
Your Constituency

WEEK 3
The Annual Fund

WEEK 4
Donor Research
Major Giving

WEEK 5
Planned Giving
Capital Campaigns

WEEK 6
Fundraising from Corporations and Foundation
Boards

WEEK 7
Volunteers
Team Building
Budgeting

WEEK 8
Ethical Fundraising
Management
Action Planning
Application of Principles

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.

Principles & Techniques of Fundraising qualifies for 27.0 CFRE Education Points/Hours.

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

The baseline course for all of The Fund Raising School courses.

Our trademark course—the definitive training program for fundraisers

Recognized internationally, Principles & Techniques provides you with the foundation and inspiration to achieve your organization's financial goals. This course presents the total framework for operating an accomplished fund development program. In just four days you will gain A-through-Z knowledge and skills that are essential for fundraising success.

You’ll learn how to

  • Identify and validate prospective donors
  • Manage the fundraising process
  • Use research to match a donor’s interests and needs with your nonprofit’s mission and goals
  • Build an annual fund donor base that keeps on giving
  • Manage the process of raising money
  • Recognize planned giving benefits to your donors and to your nonprofit
  • Structure a successful solicitation
  • Respond to challenges and ethical dilemmas with professional skill

What you’ll receive

  • An easy-to-use, comprehensive study guide to use for future reference
  • Now included: a digital copy of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, fifth edition
  • Gift club ideas
  • Board strengths inventory
  • Donor evaluation forms
  • Invaluable bibliography from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
  • Formulas for establishing best-practice benchmarks
  • A chance to network and build long-lasting, cross-mentoring relationships with other professionals
Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, Fifth Edition

The Fundraising Cube

The Fundraising Cube is a colorful desktop reminder of The Fund Raising School’s internationally-regarded fundraising management process. This handy reference is a source of pride for alumni.

Fundraising Cube