Certificate in Fundraising - Virtual Delivery (Starting 21st October 2025)

In this first module of the certificate, you will examine how evidence-based strategic planning forms a core component in achieving sustainable fundraising growth for an organisation and how theory can be simply and effectively incorporated into daily fundraising practice. You will employ a range of theories to analyse external market factors influencing fundraising success, evaluate risks, and prioritise strategic opportunities to enhance organisational performance. This module lays the foundation for your future learning, equipping you with essential skills that will be valuable throughout the course. It also facilitates the identification of real strategic opportunities that you can pursue in later modules. Accordingly, you are expected to have completed the required prerequisite learning activities outlined in the course materials and have a solid understanding of the not-for-profit sector prior to the first session.

In the second module of the Certificate in Fundraising, you will explore structured approaches to evaluating an organisation’s fundraising effectiveness, focusing on fundraising methods, incomemix, and alignment with operational objectives. You will assess philanthropic orientation and examine the ethical, sustainable, and inclusive nature of fundraising practices. This module will also explore the role of digital tools and A.I. in enhancing fundraising practices, before applying evaluative techniques to identify strategic priorities for optimising income streams.

Building on your Module 1 learning, you will combine your analysis of localised factors with broader market factors to present strategic priorities. As such, you are expected to have completed Assignment 1 and the required prerequisite learning activities outlined in the course materials for Module 2 prior to attending the first session.

For the third module of the certificate, you will study the key drivers behind donor motivation and behaviour. It will provide insights that inform more effective communication strategies and support the development of meaningful, long-term philanthropic relationships, which are more rewarding for the donor and enhance fundraising results. By exploring the psychological, cultural, ethical and behavioural factors that influence charitable giving, this module offers a critical examination of how individual and collective motivations can be used to shape more compelling propositions for specific donor segment engagement.

Connected to the evaluative process introduced in Module 2, this module deepens your understanding of donor decision-making and its implications for fundraising practices. It also provides essential knowledge for strategic planning in the final module. It is therefore necessary to have finished the required prerequisite learning activities outlined in the course materials and be familiar with the evaluative process of the prior two modules before attending the first session.

In this final module of the Certificate in Fundraising, you will employ a structured and evidence-based approach to developing a comprehensive strategic fundraising plan. Building on insights from the previous modules, you will apply strategic planning frameworks and decision-making models to effectively set fundraising objectives, prioritise strategic directions, and manage resources. You will also study how to conduct market segmentation and brand positioning for the purpose of selecting tactical activities that optimise income generation. By the end of the module, you will be able to implement budgeting, scheduling, and monitoring tools that clearly convey the operational requirements for long-term fundraising success and use communication theory to develop a robust stakeholder communication plan that clearly conveys financial and operational requirements.

This module integrates learning from the previous three modules, equipping you with the skills to apply a structured, strategic approach to diverse fundraising scenarios. By combining practical application with theoretical insights, you will develop the confidence and expertise needed to create and justify data-driven fundraising plans. To engage fully with this module, you must have completed the required prerequisite learning activities outlined in the course materials for all prior modules