Principles & Techniques of Fundraising
Maximize your fundraising success through this timeless course that teaches the tried-and-true practical skills of effective fundraising. Strengthen your fundraising abilities by learning proven fund development tools, and draft a specific fundraising plan to grow your organization. This course serves as the foundation for the rest of the curriculum. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a digital copy of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, fifth edition, the go-to reference for fundraising principles, concepts, and techniques.
Certificates: Fund Raising Management,
| Location | Dates | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | May 12, 2025 - May 15, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Closed |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | June 09, 2025 - June 12, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Seattle | June 23, 2025 - June 26, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Online (Asynchronous) | July 14, 2025 - September 07, 2025 | $1,745.00 | Register |
| Washington, D.C. | July 14, 2025 - July 17, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | August 18, 2025 - August 21, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Virtual (Live) | August 21, 2025 - October 09, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Eight Thursdays from 2pm-5pm ET Register |
| San Diego | August 25, 2025 - August 28, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Denver | September 08, 2025 - September 11, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Online (Asynchronous) | September 22, 2025 - November 16, 2025 | $1,745.00 | Register |
| Chicago | September 29, 2025 - October 02, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Seattle | October 14, 2025 - October 17, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | October 27, 2025 - October 30, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| New York City | November 10, 2025 - November 13, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | December 08, 2025 - December 11, 2025 | $1,695.00 | Register |
| San Diego | January 12, 2026 - January 15, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Virtual (Live) | January 13, 2026 - March 03, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Fort Lauderdale | January 20, 2026 - January 23, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | January 26, 2026 - January 29, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Atlanta | February 09, 2026 - February 12, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | February 16, 2026 - February 19, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Online (Asynchronous) | February 23, 2026 - April 19, 2026 | $1,745.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | March 02, 2026 - March 05, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Austin | April 07, 2026 - April 10, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | April 13, 2026 - April 16, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Online (Asynchronous) | May 04, 2026 - June 28, 2026 | $1,745.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | May 11, 2026 - May 14, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Chicago | May 18, 2026 - May 21, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| New York City | June 08, 2026 - June 11, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Indianapolis (NCAA) | June 22, 2026 - June 25, 2026 | $1,695.00 | Registration opening soon |
Schedule and Agenda
Please review the attendance policy and cancellation/transfer policy before registering.
Principles & Techniques of Fundraising is offered in the following three formats:
In-person
The in-person class is four 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.
Day 4: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00 | Registration Check-in |
| 8:30 | Opening Session Introductions Expectations and Challenges Course Overview The Cube Philanthropy, Development, and Fundraising The Fundraising Cycle |
| 10:00 | Break |
| 10:15 | The Philanthropic Landscape Research on Philanthropic Giving Understanding the External Environment Fundraising as an Exchange of Values Cube: Institutional Readiness |
| 11:45 | Lunch |
| 1:00 | The Case for Support Cube: Institutional Readiness |
| 2:45 | Break |
| 3:00 | Constituency Markets Focus on individuals as constituency for fundraising Cube: Institutional Readiness, Markets, and Vehicles |
| 4:45 | Day 1 Debrief |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Previous Day Review |
| 8:45 | The Annual Fund Program Cube: Vehicles |
| 10:00 | Break |
| 10:15 | Building the Base of Support Focus on digital fundraising, direct mail, and special events Cube: Vehicles |
| 11:45 | Lunch |
| 1:00 | Prospective Donor Research and Major Giving Cube: Vehicles |
| 2:45 | Break |
| 3:00 | Planned Giving Cube: Vehicles |
| 4:45 | Day 2 Debrief |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Previous Day Review |
| 8:45 | Campaigns: Capital to Comprehensive Cube: Vehicles |
| 10:00 | Break |
| 10:15 | Fundraising from Corporations and Foundations Cube: Markets |
| 11:45 | Lunch |
| 1:00 | Solicitation Exercise Cube: Dynamic Functions |
| 3:00 | Break |
| 3:15 | Volunteers, Boards, and the Staff Team Cube: Human Resources |
| 4:50 | Day 3 Debrief |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Previous Day Review |
| 8:45 | Stewardship Cube: Institutional Readiness |
| 9:45 | Break |
| 10:00 | Ethical Fundraising Cube: Dynamic Fundraising |
| 11:45 | Lunch |
| 1:00 | Budgeting and Managing Cube: Management |
| 2:15 | Break |
| 2:30 | Action Planning |
| 3:45 | Application of Principles Resources Inventory Analysis Review of Expectations and Obstacles Preparing a Statement of Objectives Course Evaluation Certificates & Celebration |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
Online (Asynchronous)
The asynchronous online course is eight 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.
WEEK 1 INSTITUTIONAL READINESS
Intro to Fundraising, Fundraising Cycle, Philanthropic Landscape
WEEK 2 INSTITUTIONAL READINESS
Case for Support, Constituency Markets
WEEK 3 VEHICLES AND STRATEGIES
Annual Fund and Building the Base of Support
WEEK 4 VEHICLES AND STRATEGIES, DYNAMIC FUNCTIONS
Prospective Donor Research, Major Gifts, & Solicitation
WEEK 5 VEHICLES AND STRATEGIES
Planned Gifts and Capital Campaigns
WEEK 6 MARKETS
Corporate and Foundation Markets
WEEK 7 HUMAN RESOURCES, DYNAMIC FUNCTIONS
Boards, Volunteers, Teams, Ethics
WEEK 8 MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Planning, Budgeting, Managing
To be eligible for the Certificate of Achievement, all coursework must be completed and submitted no later than Sunday of week 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET. This is a firm deadline and late work will not be accepted.
Virtual (Live)
The live, virtual class is held over eight sessions from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern and hosted using the Zoom platform. More details about the virtual format and requirements may be viewed here.
The August 21-October 9, 2025 virtual course will be held on the following dates:
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The January 13-March 3, 2026 virtual course will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Session 1
Opening Session
Introductions
Expectations and Challenges
Course Overview
The Cube
Philanthropy, Development, and Fundraising
The Fundraising Cycle
The Philanthropic Landscape
Research on Philanthropic Giving
Understanding the External Environment
Fundraising as an Exchange of Values
Cube: Institutional Readiness
Session 2
The Case for Support
Cube: Institutional Readiness
Constituency Markets
Focus on individuals as constituency for fundraising
Cube: Institutional Readiness, Markets, and Vehicles
Session 3
The Annual Fund Program
Cube: Vehicles
Building the Base of Support
Focus on digital fundraising, direct mail, and special events
Cube: Vehicles
Session 4
Prospective Donor Research and Major Giving
Cube: Vehicles
Planned Giving
Cube: Vehicles
Session 5
Campaigns: Capital to Comprehensive
Cube: Vehicles
Fundraising from Corporations and Foundations
Cube: Markets
Session 6
Solicitation Exercise
Cube: Dynamic Functions
Volunteers, Boards, and the Staff Team
Cube: Human Resources
Session 7
Stewardship
Cube: Institutional Readiness
Ethical Fundraising
Cube: Dynamic Functions
Session 8
Budgeting and Managing
Cube: Management
Action Planning
Application of Principles
Resources Inventory Analysis
Review of Expectations and Obstacles
Preparing a Statement of Objectives
Course Evaluation
Certificates & Celebration
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.
Principles & Techniques of Fundraising qualifies for 27.0 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 baseline course for all of The Fund Raising School courses.
Our trademark course—the definitive training program for fundraisers
Recognized internationally, Principles & Techniques provides you with the foundation and inspiration to achieve your organization’s financial goals. This course presents the total framework for operating an accomplished fund development program. In just four days you will gain A-through-Z knowledge and skills that are essential for fundraising success.
You’ll learn how to
- Identify and validate prospective donors
- Manage the fundraising process
- Use research to match a donor’s interests and needs with your nonprofit’s mission and goals
- Build an annual fund donor base that keeps on giving
- Manage the process of raising money
- Recognize planned giving benefits to your donors and to your nonprofit
- Structure a successful solicitation
- Respond to challenges and ethical dilemmas with professional skill
What you’ll receive
- An easy-to-use, comprehensive study guide to use for future reference
- Now included: a digital copy of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, fifth edition
- Gift club ideas
- Board strengths inventory
- Donor evaluation forms
- Invaluable bibliography from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
- Formulas for establishing best-practice benchmarks
- A chance to network and build long-lasting, cross-mentoring relationships with other professionals
The Fundraising Cube
The Fundraising Cube is a colorful desktop reminder of The Fund Raising School’s internationally-regarded fundraising management process. This handy reference is a source of pride for alumni.