Elevate Your Fundraising Success
Access the tools to revolutionize your fundraising strategy with the Fundraising Essentials Certificate—a flexible, self-paced program designed to help you build stronger donor relationships, turn stakeholders into cause advocates, and drive sustainable revenue growth. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned professional, this certificate program adapts to your needs, helping you achieve your career aspirations.
Why Choose This Program?
Expert-Designed
Learn from an array of industry leaders shaping the future of fundraising.
Accessible and Flexible
Design your learning experience around your schedule—gaining the skills you need, when you need them.
Immediate Impact
Start applying practical strategies to boost outcomes and receive mentorship from our trainers.
CFRE Certification
Earn CFRE Education Points toward your CFRE certification or recertification.
“The Fundraising Essentials Certificate is an incredible resource for fundraisers at any stage in their professional development and career. The curriculum is thorough, intuitive, and actionable!”
Organizational Licenses
Empower Your Team—Save as You Grow
Access exclusive savings with our Organizational Licenses! Equip your team with the Fundraising Essentials Certificate and take advantage of our “buy more, save more” offer— the larger your purchase, the bigger the discount.
Investing in your team with this training certificate will help your organization:
- Attract and Retain Key Donors: Enable your team to implement strategies that cultivate long-term relationships.
- Strengthen Your Team’s Fundraising Capacity: Equip your staff to navigate fundraising challenges with resilience and adaptability, while instilling a culture of philanthropy and fostering a unified, systemic approach to fundraising.
- Boost Staff Retention: Foster professional growth and invest in development to retain your valuable fundraising team members.
- Position Your Organization for Success: Stand out as a leading nonprofit in a competitive landscape.
- Diversify Your Revenue Pipeline: Build sustainable growth through more robust and varied fundraising revenue streams.
Contact Pearl Hoeglund, Fundraising Academy Director, at phoeglund@nu.edu to get started.
Individual Certificates
The flexible, modular format of the Fundraising Essentials Certificate allows you to complete courses based on your current needs, and in any order, after completing the introductory course.
Investing in your fundraising skills with this training certificate will help you:
- Increase Your Confidence: Master proven fundraising strategies that equip you to tackle complex fundraising challenges with ease.
- Elevate Your Capacity as a Fundraiser: Strategically manage donor relationships and lead initiatives that drive long-term impact for your organization.
- Boost Your Resume: Showcase your commitment to professional development and expertise in fundraising.
- Pursue Your CFRE: Earn CFRE Education Points toward your CFRE certification or recertification.
- Expand Your Network: Connect with like-minded professionals, increase your peer network, and gain valuable mentorship and support that will enhance your growth and impact.
- Grow and Retain Your Donor Base: Apply advanced donor engagement techniques that foster lasting, impactful relationships.
Certificate Courses
Explore a curated collection of nine courses that cover foundational and advanced fundraising practices and culminate in the creation of a strategic development plan.
Note: FUN 600: An Introduction to Cause Selling: Relationship-Driven Fundraising is a mandatory course that must be completed before beginning any other courses in the certificate.
The course list is as follows:
- FUN 600: An Introduction to Cause Selling: Relationship-Driven Fundraising
- FUN 610: Fundraising Foundations – Finding Your Why & Understanding Why People Give
- FUN 620: Fundraising Basics – Crafting Donor Personas & Ethics in Fundraising
- FUN 630: Fundraising Essentials – Six Powerful Fundraising Tools, Time Management
- FUN 640: Prospecting – Converting Leads into Qualified Donors
- FUN 650: Donor Cultivation – Approach, Need Discovery, Presentation
- FUN 660: The Ask – Confirming the Gift – Handling Objections, The Ask
- FUN 670: Stewardship – Fostering Donor Loyalty
- FUN 680: Capstone – Perfecting Your Pitch, Fundraising Action Plan
Become a Cause Champion
Invest in your fundraising skills today for future success. Join our email list to stay updated on trainings and resources!