Take the Next Step in Your Fundraising Career
You know how to fundraise now it’s time to learn how to lead fundraising. This five-session certificate course is designed for nonprofit professionals who already have fundraising experience and are ready to expand beyond their area of expertise and think more strategically about the entire development function.
Whether your background is in major gifts, grants, stewardship, annual giving, events, or another area of development, you’ll build the skills needed to create fundraising strategy, strengthen donor engagement, use data to drive decisions, lead high-performing teams, and partner effectively with executive leadership and boards.
Designed for current and aspiring development leaders, this course will help you make the transition from fundraising practitioner to strategic fundraising leader.
The program includes five in-person sessions, each held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and all five sessions are included in the certificate price.
Session 1: Building a Strategic Fundraising Program 10/5/2026
Move beyond individual fundraising activities and learn how to think strategically about the entire development program. Explore how to build a diversified fundraising strategy, align revenue goals with organizational priorities, and create a roadmap for sustainable growth.
Session 2: Leading Donor Engagement Across the Giving Journey 10/12/2026
Great fundraising is about more than securing the gift. Learn how to look at the full donor journey from cultivation and solicitation to stewardship and long-term engagement—and build stronger strategies for deepening donor relationships over time.
Session 3: Data-Driven Fundraising Leadership 10/19/2026
Turn fundraising data into better decisions. Learn which metrics matter most, how to evaluate fundraising performance, identify opportunities for growth, and use data to communicate results and guide strategy.
Session 4: Leading & Growing a High-Performing Development Team 10/26/2026
Making the move from fundraiser to fundraising leader requires a different set of skills. Explore how to manage, coach, and develop fundraising professionals, set clear expectations, build accountability, and create a collaborative, high-performing development team.
Session 5: Executive Leadership & Board Partnership 11/2/2026
Fundraising leaders don't work in isolation. Learn how to build strong partnerships with executive leadership and the board, communicate fundraising priorities and results, engage others in development efforts, and become a trusted strategic voice within your organization.
