Certificate in Fundraising - Virtual Delivery (Starting 19th March 2025)

19 March - 11 December 2025
09:30AM to 12:30PM

Individual Prices

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Package Type Available To Price
Individual Member Fee All Days Individual Members £2072
Non-Individual Member Fee All Days Non Individual Members £2185

This qualification helps fundraisers become more confident and understand how to make a genuine difference to their organisation’s fundraising programme.

Standard Content

Key dates and information

The Certificate in Fundraising provides students foundation theoretical concepts and principles behind successful fundraising. It examines the role of fundraising within the sector and the role it plays in society. We believe that this qualification will offer candidates a truly exceptional grounding in the principles of fundraising and provide the knowledge and skills essential for a modern career in the profession.

The booking deadline for this qualification is 19 February 2025. Please contact us if you have any questions about this qualification.

The Certificate course is equivalent to a level 4 programme and is similar in level and assessment to the first year of a traditional full-time degree. As a guide you must have a minimum of twelve months to three years fundraising experience either in a paid or voluntary capacity and you must be actively fundraising in an organisation while you are on the course.

Module 1 - The Fundraising Environment

This module will provide you with an understanding of the wider environment in which charities and other nonprofits operate. It has been newly updated to reflect recent changes in regulation, self-regulation and in particular the implications of GDPR. The module also includes a strong emphasis on fundraising ethics, introducing multiple perspectives for ethical decision making, together with a detailed consideration of the role and implementation of the Code of Fundraising Practice.

Pre-Course Work Begins 5 March 2025
Module 1 Session 1 19 March 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 1 Session 2 20 March 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 1 Tutorial 24 April 2025, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 1 Deadline 15 May 2025
Module 2 - Understanding Donor Behaviour

This module reveals the emerging science of donor behaviour. You’ll learn who gives, why they give and in some cases why individuals elect not to give or decide to stop giving. We will also draw on the latest research findings from the fields of economics, sociology, marketing and the new field of philanthropic psychology. You will learn how to discern the genuine needs of donors and how to add real value in the experience of their philanthropy.

Pre-Module Work Begins 28 May 2025
Module 2 Session 1 11 June 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 2 Session 2 12 June 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 2 Tutorial 3 July 2025, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 2 Deadline 24 July 2025
Module 3 - Designing Donor Communication

Here you will learn how to design compelling donor-centric communication that will inspire and excite your donors. We’ll look at the science that underpins great fundraising copy and also the design of both print and digital communications.  You’ll learn how to audit communications to enhance their effectiveness in both monetary terms AND how good they make supporters feel. At the core of this is the design of a truly compelling case for support.

Pre-Module Work Begins 6 August 2025
Module 3 Session 1 20 August 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 3 Session 2 21 August 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 3 Tutorial 11 September 2025, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 3 Deadline 2 October 2025
Module 4 - Fundamentals of Fundraising Planning

This module provides a framework for the planning of fundraising activities. You’ll learn how to design a plan for your own fundraising activity, conducting a fundraising audit, writing objectives that are an appropriate response to that environment and proposing a fundraising mix to achieve them. The course will give you a firm grasp of how each key form of fundraising operates. Students will also cover key concepts such as segmentation, positioning, branding and the case for support. It will also teach you how to build a fundraising budget, schedule of activities and appropriate forms of monitoring and control.

Pre-Module Work Begins 16 October 2025
Module 4 Session 1 29 October 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 4 Session 2 30 October 2025, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 4 Tutorial 20 November 2025, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 4 Deadline 11 December 2025

Course textbook

You will need to purchase the course textbook Fundraising Management Analysis, Planning and Practice (4th Edition) by Adrian Sargeant, Jayne George Routledge, London.

The course textbook is not included in the fees.

Commitment

Pre-course work is required before the start of each module to ensure students are fully prepared for their teaching sessions. Each module is made up of two teachings sessions and a tutorial via Zoom. Students are expected to attend all live teaching sessions and tutorials.

In addition to the teaching sessions and tutorials, there are approximately 400 hours of self-directed study to complete this qualification.

Students are also required to complete four work based assignments. It is recommended that you make a note of the key dates for each module as well as the assignment deadlines before booking onto the qualification.

Meet your tutors

Sam Rider
Sam Rider
Sam has over 25 years’ experience of leading both large and small fundraising teams for national, international and regional charities.
Mark Carrigan
Mark Carrigan
Often working directly with global leaders and heads of state, Mark has supported organisations around the world since 2003 with combined funding goals exceeding $590 million.

You will need

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this qualification, or would like a copy of the course handbook, please contact us.
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