Effective Leadership, Successful Fundraising
You have developed significant fundraising skills, and now you have been promoted to lead the fundraising team. Especially for the new leader or the fundraising executive aspiring for a leadership position, in this course, you will learn how to develop and cast vision for your fundraising operation, recruit and retain talent, continually innovate, lead through consensus, address setbacks, and hold colleagues accountable for results.
Certificates: Fund Raising Leadership,
| Location | Dates | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online (Asynchronous) | May 19, 2025 - June 29, 2025 | $1,040.00 | Full. We are no longer accepting waitlist requests. |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | August 25, 2025 - August 27, 2025 | $990.00 | Register |
| Online (Asynchronous) | October 06, 2025 - November 16, 2025 | $1,040.00 | Registration opening soon |
| San Diego | December 03, 2025 - December 05, 2025 | $990.00 | Register |
| Fort Lauderdale | January 28, 2026 - January 30, 2026 | $990.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Online (Asynchronous) | May 18, 2026 - June 28, 2026 | $1,040.00 | Registration opening soon |
Course Details
Please review the attendance policy and cancellation/transfer policy before registering.
Schedule
Effective Leadership is offered in-person or online.
In-person
The in-person class is three 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.
In-person course objectives
After completion of this course, the participant will:
- Internalize the personal traits necessary for effective leadership - especially how power, authority, and humility need to be understood and applied;
- Recognize how the traits of a successful fundraiser translate into the qualities of an effective leader and how the application of leadership is distinct from management;
- Understand how to recruit the right people to the team and then guide, correct, and encourage their collective efforts as an in-group, transformational leader;
- Learn how to become an innovative leader who crafts and communicates a compelling vision, listens, and responds to disagreement and resistance, and oversees responsive initiatives in the philanthropic sector; and
- Identify and address ethical challenges associated with effective leadership.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Defining Leadership |
| 10:15 | Break |
| 10:30 | Humility, Power, and Authority |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 1:15 | Hiring and Managing the Staff Team |
| 2:45 | Break |
| 3:00 | Vision |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Review of Previous Day |
| 8:45 | Transformational Leadership |
| 10:15 | Break |
| 10:30 | Change Agent & In-Group Leadership |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 1:15 | The Leader as Coach & Authentic Leadership: Communication & Team Chemistry |
| 3:00 | Break |
| 3:15 | The Leader as Coach & Authentic Leadership: Communication & Team Chemistry |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Review of Previous Day |
| 8:45 | Continuous Improvement |
| 10:15 | Break |
| 10:30 | Continuous Improvement & Innovation, Group Process Modeling |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 1:15 | Crisis Leadership and Ethics |
| 3:00 | Break |
| 3:15 | Shared Leadership & Life-Work Balance |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
Online (Asynchronous) Schedule
The asynchronous online course is six weeks in length.
Each week you’ll have a course module to complete. Each module consists of:
- viewing a pre-recorded narrated presentation
- engaging in forum discussions with others
- and submitting assignments.
More details about the online format and requirements may be viewed here.
Online course objectives
After completion of this course, the participant will:
- Distinguish between leadership and management when guiding fundraising for a nonprofit organization;
- Recognize the four roles of the nonprofit leader and how those roles support successful fundraising;
- Develop skills in transformational, in-group, and authentic leadership to utilize when leading up and across the nonprofit organization toward successful fundraising;
- Foster and strengthen a growth mindset of continuous improvement and innovation;
- Understand the distinct strategies of leading and communicating during times of crisis; and
- Apply principles of ethical decision making to effective leadership practice and fundraising.
Week 1: Introduction to Leadership
Leadership v. Management
Fundraising Skills = Leadership Skills
Humility
Power & Authority
Week 2: Vision
Hiring the right people onto your team
The Four Roles of the Nonprofit Leader
The leader’s first responsibility: Vision!
How to look outside your nonprofit and into the future
Week 3: Vision & Change Agent
Transformational Leadership
In-Group Leadership
Leading Up
The leader as change agent
Week 4: Coach
The leader as coach
Authentic Leadership
Active listening and responsive communication
Continuous improvement and innovation
Week 5: Coach & Crisis Leadership
Knowing when to say “no”
Overcoming resistance
Expect the unexpected
Crisis leadership and communication
Week 6: Crisis Leadership, Ethics, & Self-Care
Ethical leadership
Exercise habits for self-care
Leadership, Vision, and Fundraising
Leadership and your opportunities
To be eligible for the Certificate of Achievement, all coursework must be completed and submitted no later than Sunday of week 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET. This is a firm deadline and late work will not be accepted.
Location
Please click on the city name for further details and recommended hotel accommodations. Registrants 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.
Effective Leadership, Successful Fundraising qualifies for 20.25 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.