Principles and Practices of Fundraising

This course is designed for current or aspiring managers, professional staff, and volunteers in the nonprofit sector who want to become familiar with the fundamentals of philanthropy and fundraising. Topics include an overview of philanthropy and its importance in today's interconnected world; characteristics of nonprofit organizations and their differing fundraising needs and systems; motivations for giving; ethical concerns; prospect research; types of funding sources; capital campaigns; grant proposal writing; solicitation techniques; and internet fundraising. The frameworks that we cover are applicable to different missions, sizes, and types of nonprofit organizations. Please note that this course consists in large part of a simulation in which students join a team representing a fictional or real nonprofit organization and work to prepare a final presentation for potential donors, played primarily by the instructor and teaching assistants. The course is meant to have students experience, as realistically as possible, what it is like to work in a fundraising environment.