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The Fund Raising School Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Fund Raising School

Celebrating Our 50th Anniversary

Visionary leadership of Henry and Dorothy Rosso led to the creation of The Fund Raising School in 1974. That’s right. The Fund Raising School is celebrating our 50th anniversary!

While Hank and Dottie wrote the first course on a manual typewriter, and content was displayed to the class on an overhead projector, The Fund Raising School now teaches topics such as “Digital Fundraising” and “A.I. and Fundraising.” The Fund Raising School remains dedicated to the advancement of ethical, research-based fundraising training.

Instead of asking for gifts for our landmark birthday, The Fund Raising School is offering the possibility of a gift to you! See how you can win a giveaway below.

 

Hank and Dottie Rosso, The Fund Raising School founders, with Robert Payton, Gerald Bepko, and Gene Tempel.
Hank and Dottie Rosso, The Fund Raising School founders, with Robert Payton, Gerald Bepko, and Gene Tempel.
40+
Countries
6,000+
participants each year
95%
gain confidence to fundraise effectively

The Fund Raising School has taught across the United States and in over 40 countries, reaching approximately 6,000 participants each year. In addition to public courses, we customize trainings in the U.S. and around the world, host quarterly webinars, disseminate a weekly podcast, and publish “Achieving Excellence in Fundraising,” the definitive book on effective and ethical fundraising. Most importantly, nearly 80 percent of alums who implement what they learn from The Fund Raising School report that they raise more money, and 95 percent gain confidence to fundraise effectively.

Achieving Excellence in Fundraising book cover, fifth edition.

Celebrate with us

In honor of our 50th birthday, The Fund Raising School is giving away:

  • 50 free copies of “Achieving Excellence in Fundraising”
  • 50 free TFRS courses
  • 12 “Finish Your Certificate in Fundraising Management” (CFRM) gift certificates, good for the courses needed to complete your CFRM.

To be eligible for one of these gifts, make sure to subscribe to our email updates. If you receive our monthly newsletter or weekly podcast emails, you are already an email subscriber.

Winners will be notified each month via email through June 24, 2025. Checkout our newsletter, website, and social media for updates.

Subscribe today
  • TFRS certificate recipients pose for picture.
    Advance your fundraising career

    Courses

    We offer twenty-four courses and four certificates, hosted online or in-person. From understanding major gift development, you will increase your understanding of the total fundraising process through the principles and techniques we teach. Enroll today!

  • First day podcast graphic.
    Latest news and research

    First Day Podcast

    We produce a free, weekly, 10-minute podcast that provides fundraisers with the latest news and research about fundraising and philanthropy. Listen today!

  • Donor solicitation TFRS class.
    Training tailored to your needs

    Customized training

    We create customized trainings for individual non-profits, larger associations, regional organizations, and even countries that want to learn new techniques to advance fund raising. Bring The Fund Raising School to you!

I recently completed the Certificate in Fundraising Management, and it was truly an incredible experience. From start to finish, it was a journey that included people dedicated to helping me excel in my field. Each course was not only comprehensive but was presented in a way that made complex concepts easy to understand. I walked away with techniques and action plans for my nonprofit. The instructors were not only experts in their field, but they became my mentors.

Anna Vandelac Major Gift Officer at Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota