Planned Giving: Getting the Proper Start
Kickstart your journey into planned giving with this foundational course designed for fundraisers. “Planned Giving: Getting the Proper Start” covers everything you need to know to begin integrating planned giving into your fundraising program. Throughout the course, participants will explore the benefits to both organizations and donors, learn to blend major and planned gifts, and gain a solid understanding of planned giving basics. Key topics include gifts that help now and later, prospective donor identification, and effective communication strategies. The course also introduces marketing planned gifts, ethical considerations, and steps to get your planned giving program started, along with institutional readiness and action planning.
Certificates: Fund Raising Management, Planned Giving Management
| Location | Dates | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | March 03, 2025 - March 05, 2025 | $1,295.00 | Full. Please email tfrs@iu.edu to be added to the wait list. |
| Online (Asynchronous) | March 10, 2025 - April 20, 2025 | $1,345.00 | Register |
| Chicago | May 05, 2025 - May 07, 2025 | $1,295.00 | Register |
| Online (Asynchronous) | August 11, 2025 - September 21, 2025 | $1,345.00 | Registration opening later this year. |
| Denver | August 18, 2025 - August 20, 2025 | $1,295.00 | Registration opening later this year. |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | October 20, 2025 - October 22, 2025 | $1,295.00 | Registration opening later this year. |
| Virtual (Live) | November 06, 2025 - December 18, 2025 | $1,295.00 | Registration opening later this year. |
Course Details
Please review the attendance policy and cancellation/transfer policy before registering.
Schedule
The course is offered in the following three formats:
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.
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:
- 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.
Virtual (Live) Schedule
The live, virtual class is held over six 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 November 6-December 18, 2025 virtual course will be held on the following dates:
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Thursday, November 20, 2025
No class the week of Thanksgiving.
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Location
The location next to each course date indicates if the course is being held in-person (e.g. city name) or online.
For in-person classes, please click on the city name for further details and recommended hotel accommodations.
Registrants for in-person, asynchronous online, and virtual dates 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.
Planned Giving: Getting the Proper Start 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.
The Fund Raising School and its faculty assume a baseline knowledge of the concepts and terminology from “Principles & Techniques of Fundraising” in teaching this course.