Registration is now open for a free online fundraising course from Kent’s Centre for Philanthropy.
The MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) titled ‘How to Fundraise: A Guide to Fundraising for Non-Fundraisers’ is designed to help charities raise more money successfully, ethically and enjoyably. Participants will learn how to create an effective, sustainable fundraising strategy.
“I went from knowing very little to feeling that I could make a significant contribution to a fundraising project and all in under three weeks of relatively light study. The reason for ‘progress’ in this subject, is entirely due to how the subject was taught. The teaching staff did an incredible job.”
It’s the second time the Centre for Philanthropy has flung open its doors to the world with its MOOC. More than 5,000 people took advantage of the opportunity to develop skills in fundraising management when the MOOC was first launched in May 2020.
“We are in the midst of reworking our individual giving strategy, including especially our approach to membership. Getting down to basics and a broad scope of fundraising has hugely helped in how I look at this project to approach it from the ground up.”
The three-week course, supported by the Pears Foundation, begins on Monday 4 October. Course content is informed by evidence-based research on the motivations behind donor giving and includes tips on everything from preparing your fundraising story to processing donations.
As a participant, you can expect to spend around four hours per week watching short videos by academic experts explaining key concepts, and undertaking brief exercises to cement your learning. By the time the course ends on Sunday 24 October 2021, you will have created a practical fundraising strategy for use in your organisation.
“The course has consolidated my existing knowledge, taught me aspects I was previously unaware of and made me enthusiastic that I am on the right path. The educator interaction was excellent, and the resources were extremely useful.”
The course is open to all but is likely to be particularly useful for leaders and members of small charities or non-profit organisations, local branches of larger charities, volunteer-led groups and community organisations, as well as inexperienced or new fundraisers.
Register now on the FutureLearn website
The Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent
SSPSSR’s Centre for Philanthropy is a leading centre of philanthropy research, teaching and public engagement. The Centre conducts robust and relevant research, in partnership with charity sector partners on a range of topics, including fundraising, major donors, giving circles, giving across the life course, corporate philanthropy, and philanthropy’s relationship with social justice. The expertise of Centre staff makes it a regular source of comment and analysis for the media in Britain and beyond.
The Centre also runs an innovative online MA in Philanthropic Studies (which is also available as a PCert or PDip)