The Professional Fundraising Program is a fully online, comprehensive program that is completed over twelve weeks. By the time you finish the coursework, you’ll be ready to lead successful fundraising initiatives and cultivate fruitful donor relationships. This program also meets the educational requirements for Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification.
The comprehensive curriculum consists of twelve modules that cover every aspect of fundraising, from donor relationships to operations. We continually update our content to reflect the changing giving landscape, incorporating topics such as international and inclusive fundraising, AI and technology, staffing and recruiting, and small shop strategies.
Program experience
In each module, you’ll engage with videos and carefully selected readings you can access anytime. You’ll also participate in instructor-facilitated discussions every week where you can share insights with your peers. All required elements can be completed asynchronously, but all assignments must be submitted by their due dates.
Weekly live sessions
Each week, we offer a live session where you can engage with a fundraising expert. While attendance is not mandatory and sessions are recorded for later viewing, we strongly encourage joining live. These sessions provide insight into the real-world application of module concepts and can help you complete your weekly reflection assignment more effectively.
Mentorship program
You will be paired with an experienced fundraising professional—often a program alum—who serves as your mentor. These valuable connections typically begin as Zoom or phone conversations during the program and could grow into lasting professional relationships.
Networking is a big part of the certificate program experience. Students engage a lot in the live sessions and discussion boards, and they also connect outside of class to talk about job searching, share ideas, and discuss challenges in their work. As instructors, we’re also very open to chat with students and provide guidance, whether it’s about a course or their overall professional growth.
Jonathan Schaffrath, Program Director
Professional Fundraising Program Outcomes
- Gain a broad understanding of the professional fundraising landscape.
- Learn the end-to-end fundraising operation: who does what, how roles interact, and why each function matters.
- Understand fundraising best practices and explore new approaches.
- Build a portfolio of real-world projects, demonstrating your ability to apply module concepts in practical scenarios.
- Expand your professional network by connecting with peers, instructors, and mentors who offer valuable support and opportunities for collaboration.
- Reflect on your personal role and impact to develop a strong sense of professional purpose.
- Fulfill the education requirement for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification.
Professional Fundraising Module Descriptions
Understand the history, ethics, and big-picture strategies of development. You’ll explore how fundraising integrates with an organization’s financial, legal, and administrative functions to drive success.
Key Topics: History of fundraising, ethics in development, role of philanthropy in nonprofits.Learn to identify potential donors by analyzing individual, corporate, and foundation data. You’ll work on developing research profiles to assess capacity and inclination to give, while mastering the use of data systems to enhance fundraising efforts.
Key Topics: Research tools, prospect identification, data management.This module focuses on creating and managing annual giving campaigns. From direct mail to crowdfunding, you’ll explore different strategies to build a consistent base of donors.
Key Topics: Direct mail, digital campaigns, gift clubs, matching gifts.Craft powerful messages that inspire donors to act. You’ll learn to write for a variety of media, from multimillion-dollar proposals to brief social media posts, all while aligning communication strategies with your organization’s mission.
Key Topics: Proposal writing, storytelling, donor communication strategies.Gain insight into cultivating and managing relationships with major donors. You’ll explore strategies for identifying, approaching, and securing high-level gifts, and learn to maintain long-term stewardship with top donors.
Key Topics: Prospect rating, cultivation, stewardship, major gift strategies.Explore the intricacies of planned giving, from bequests and annuities to trusts. This module will teach you how to structure planned giving programs and develop long-term donor relationships.
Key Topics: Planned giving vehicles, donor identification, marketing strategies.Learn how to secure institutional support through grants and corporate sponsorships. You’ll work on writing effective grant proposals and understanding how to align corporate sponsorships with your organization’s mission.
Key Topics: Grant writing, sponsorships, corporate giving programs.Understand the essentials of running a successful capital campaign. This module covers setting goals, recruiting volunteers, creating case statements, and managing campaign timelines.
Key Topics: Campaign planning, gift pyramids, volunteer leadership, capital gift vehicles.Explore how to effectively recruit and manage volunteers. This module will teach you how to build a strong volunteer leadership team and how to integrate them into your fundraising strategy.
Key Topics: Volunteer management, board development, leadership roles.Learn the behind-the-scenes operations that are critical to successful fundraising, such as gift processing, financial reporting, and donor relations.
Key Topics: Gift processing, information management, stewardship.Discover the importance of ethical standards in fundraising. You’ll also explore how to manage a fundraising team, measure success, and create accountability systems within your organization.
Key Topics: Donor relations, stewardship, ethical fundraising practices.Request Information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the Online Professional Fundraising Program offered by Boston University, please fill out the form. You can also contact an enrollment advisor directly by calling (857) 971-4728.