Fundamentals of Fundraising Course

2019 Fundamentals of Fundraising

September 4-5, 2019
2-Day Comprehensive Course


Just getting started in fundraising?  Want to review your skills?

Know someone that fits the bill?  Look no further!

The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course offers a complete overview of the development function. Designed by experienced fundraising professionals, the two-day course addresses the real-world needs and challenges nonprofit organizations face every day. Recommended for professionals with zero to four years of fundraising experience.

 

2019 Course Details

Dates & Location:
Wednesday & Thursday, September 4-5, 2019
8am – 5:30pm (both days)

American Red Cross

995 E Broad St.  Columbus, OH
Parking is Free

 

Registration Fee:
$390 for AFP Members
$490 for Non-members
Fee includes all sessions, workbook, refreshments and lunch both days.

16 CFRE Credits applied for and pending

 

Registration Deadline is Wednesday, August 14

 

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

or complete and return the hard-copy registration form below

 

Scholarships opportunities are available for AFP members

Scholarship Information and Application
Deadline for scholarship applications: Wednesday, July 31, 2019

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For more information contact course co-chairs 

Mayme Norman

614-724-3686

 [email protected]

or

Jane Nolan

972-358-1251

[email protected]


The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course is composed of seven modules that have been designed by experienced fundraising professionals to meet the real-world needs and challenges non profit organizations face every day. This 16 hr course is meant to be taught in an active learning style and includes case studies and projects for groups and individuals, making the learning experience both substantive and enjoyable. The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course offers a complete overview of the development function, featuring the most current information and techniques and will provide an overview of skills, techniques and program components for individuals with zero to four years of fundraising experience

The course objectives for The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course represent the “big picture” overview of the course. Under these objectives, for each course module there will be additional learning objectives that will lead to accomplishment of these overall course objectives. The seven modules of The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course are:

Course Overview:


Overview of Fundraising Back to top

A big-picture look at professional fundraising, including the important role philanthropy plays in organizations and key motivations behind why people give. Also included: the primary sources of contributions; what an integrated development program looks like and which essential components aid success; the fundraising profession as a career, focusing on key qualities for success and a basic path for personal and professional development in the field; an introduction to professional standards and ethics. Objectives: After this module, you’ll be better able to:

  • Explain the culture of philanthropy and the role philanthropy plays in organizations.
  • Name 8-10 key reasons people give.
  • Describe the primary sources of contributions.
  • Describe the essential components of an integrated development program and the primary purpose of each one.
  • State key qualities that every fundraiser should possess and describe a basic path for personal professional development.
  • Describe the key principles of the Donor Bill of Rights and the AFP Code of Ethics.

Developing an Integrated Fundraising Program Back to top

To effectively raise funds for an organization’s mission, it’s important to have a comprehensive plan in place that articulates the organization’s case for support and includes appropriate giving opportunities. This module covers the importance of connecting that comprehensive plan with the organization’s overall mission and strategic plan. The module features an overview of campaign types (annual giving, major gifts, planned giving) with a focus on the key role of annual giving. Content will include establishing/ensuring that appropriate policies and procedures are in place to both ensure integrity of donor intent and to honor donors/volunteers in appropriate ways. Objectives: After this module, you’ll be better able to:

  • Discuss the relationship between the organization’s overall mission and strategic plan and the development plan.
  • State the reasons for coordinating the budgeting and planning process of the fundraising department with that of the overall organization.
  • Define elements in background information and in the case for support that will have the most appeal to appropriate stakeholders, both emotionally and rationally.
  • Describe the essential components of an integrated development program.
  • Identify stakeholders typically affected by a development plan.
  • Distinguish the differences between and uses for annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving.
  • Describe the key characteristics of individual and group solicitations, and when each is most effectively used.
  • Define the reasons for and differences between gift acknowledgement, acceptance, and recognition policies.

Marketing for Ongoing Success Back to top

Communicating information about fundraising activities to appropriate audiences (donors and prospects alike) and keeping all stakeholders informed about the organization’s progress is critical to ongoing and future success. Effective marketing is a key part of building and sustaining relationships for fundraising purposes. This module will cover creating a plan for marketing and communications activities that support development goals and strategies. It will also touch on the growing roles and importance of the Internet and social media in fundraising. Objectives: After this module, you’ll be better able to:

  • Explain the definition of marketing and describe its application to fundraising.
  • Cite examples of communications methods and describe how each might be used to cultivate and retain donors.
  • Identify a variety of ways an organization’s marketing message can be shared with stakeholders, and suggest which best fit particular stakeholders.
  • Prepare donor-centered solicitation materials that will influence and facilitate informed gift decisions.
  • Describe the roles of the Internet and social media in fundraising.

Building & Sustaining Relationships Back to top

Relationships are the key to fundraising success, and successful relationships start with knowing current and prospective donors well. This module will introduce the powerful role of prospect and donor research, including identifying and segmenting prospects and donors according to appropriate variables as well as effective donor records management to support ongoing relationships. Finally, cultivation, establishing and maintaining relationships with individuals and organizations, and optimizing relationships to retain donors rounds out the module. Objectives: After this module, you’ll be better able to:

  • Explain the role of research in identifying individuals and groups with the capacity and potential to give in order to qualify them for further research and cultivation efforts.
  • Describe examples of effective cultivation strategies and identify steps to use to maximize gift return on an ongoing basis.
  • Identify the basic elements of good relationships with volunteers, donors, and qualified prospects.
  • Cite examples of effective relationship-building strategies.
  • Define “stewardship” and describe its role in building lasting relationships.
  • Discuss application of appropriate acknowledgement, acceptance, and recognition policies and practices.

Securing the Gift Back to top

Once the development plan is in place and appropriate policies and procedures are set up, it’s time to actively solicit gifts from donors and prospects. In this module, a closer look will be taken at solicitation strategies for campaign types, focusing most closely on solicitation techniques for annual giving. Additionally, there will be an overview of techniques for soliciting major and planned gifts. Special emphasis will be placed on implementing critical acknowledgement, acceptance, and recognition practices. Objectives: After this module, you’ll be better able to:

  • Describe solicitation techniques used in annual giving programs.
  • Identify, recruit, and prepare the appropriate mix of volunteers, staff, and professionals to carry out solicitations.
  • Name the additional training needs for volunteers involved in solicitation.
  • Discuss the six steps to a “model” major-gift solicitation.
  • List strategies for obtaining support from corporations/businesses, foundations, and government entities.
  • Describe the process for developing and presenting a written grant proposal.
  • Discuss application of appropriate acknowledgement, acceptance, and recognition policies and practices.

Volunteers – Partners in Fundraising Back to top

Fundraising just wouldn’t be possible without dedicated volunteers supporting the organization’s efforts. Establishing and maintaining a respectful relationship with volunteers is both art and science, beginning with how they are recruited. This module will explore effective ways volunteers can be recruited, trained, managed, motivated, evaluated, and recognized. As importantly, there are times when volunteers are best included in the development process to ensure they experience a sense of ownership in the organization’s work and can effectively perform their roles. Objectives: After this module, you’ll be better able to:

  • Explain ways to use volunteers to help achieve organizational and fundraising objectives.
  • Discuss the key elements of a structured process for identifying, recruiting, managing, motivating, evaluating, and retaining volunteers.
  • Describe a model volunteer orientation program.
  • Explain the board’s role in fundraising.
  • Describe methods for recognizing volunteers.

Management & Accountability Back to top

Fundraising is about more than soliciting donors and prospects, and the development office is responsible for managing the development plan. This module will present an overview of the management aspects of fundraising including budgeting, records management, gift processing, program evaluation, and the key roles and responsibilities of staff and volunteer leadership. The module ends with a look at accountability, basic legal requirements, and fundraising ethics in practice. Objectives: After this module, you’ll be better able to:

  • Participate appropriately in the organization’s budget and planning process.
  • Describe key considerations in receiving, accepting, recording, acknowledging, tracking, and reporting gifts and pledges.
  • List the primary roles and responsibilities of the board, CEO and development officer.
  • Discuss methods for evaluating development program performance.
  • Identify basic accounting and tax requirements that apply to gifts and pledges.
  • Discuss the relevant legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements for information maintained in a donor database, and state potential sources for this information.

Seamless AFP Education Matrix:

In addition, the Task Force made the decision to align The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course after the 2009 revised CFRE Review Course so that the material is taught in a way that takes the beginner from a fundamental understanding to a natural progression of skills and knowledge that the practitioner of 4-5 years would have prepping to write their CFRE. This also allows for a seamless transition across AFP curriculum that will be important as AFP expands its training and educational programming.

 


Back to top

AFP Global Education Courses Chair

Anne McKiterick (she/her/hers)

Senior Manager of Individual Giving - Center of Science and Industry (COSI)

Contact Me

614-403-1929


Position Title: AFP Global Education Courses Chair –  (Fundamentals of Fundraising, CFRE Review Course, Fundraising Effectiveness Project)

Capacity: Board Member

Reports to: Vice President of Professional Development

Key Responsibilities:

  • Organizes and chairs committee meetings
  • Recruits and enlists committee members; monitors the work of volunteers to ensure timely completion of assignments
  • Coordinates planning and implementation of Fundamentals of Fundraising and/or CFRE Review Course including:
    • Establishing best practices criteria for and selects course instructors
    • Serves as liaison with AFP Global to schedule, promote, market and oversee courses
    • Determines location and timing of courses in coordination with the Chapter education calendar
    • Coordinates registration and pre-payment for all participants
    • Maintains student database and sends follow-up letters after course; sends certificate spreadsheet to Chapter Administrator for records
    • Obtains necessary supplies and course materials
    • Monitors student attendance and course completion and presents certificates
    • Compiles evaluations
  • Works with Vice President of Communications Marketing Chair and Scholarship Chair to outline strategies for communicating course opportunity and scholarships to members and non-members
  • With committee, personally promotes course opportunity through group and one-on-one communications
  • Develops and submits a budget to the Treasurer by designated deadline; monitors committee income and expenditures
  • Provides timely and up-to-date content to Chapter Administrator and Marketing Chair for website and digital publications
  • Ensures there is a succession plan to cultivate a new chair to take his/her place as needed
  • Works to successfully achieve goals outlined in Chapter Strategic Plan
  • Celebrates success; ensures that celebration includes expressions of gratitude to volunteers
  • Adheres to policies and Board responsibilities as adopted by the Board of Directors
  • Upon leaving office, transfers all records to successor