Intro to Fundraising
This course will introduce you to the knowledge and skills necessary for fundraising. We discuss the psychology behind fundraising and grant-making and explore common fundraising strategies employed by nonprofits. Tools for fundraising activities are introduced (e.g., Foundation Center Directory Online and individual fundraising platforms, Relationship Science, LinkedIn, Facebook, fiscal sponsorship, grants.gov). Topics will include institutional partnerships (e.g., private foundations, corporations, and government), individual donor campaigns, capital campaigns, events, direct mail, crowd-sourced funding, social media, and estate planning.
Institutional Fundraising
Learn how to identify, steward relationships with, and apply for funding from private, corporate, and government institutions in the arts. Fellowships, artist residencies, and funding for individuals will be discussed. Topics will include prospect research, networking with board and staff, grant writing, budget preparation, and fiscal sponsorship opportunities. Grant proposal development will be discussed in detail, including introductions, organizational history and background, need statements, program description, metrics/evaluation, sustainability, budgeting, and conclusions. Proposals will be distributed, deconstructed, and analyzed for effectiveness.
Individual Fundraising
Explore individual giving through direct mail campaigns, events, estate planning, and social media. Identify the most productive ways to find individual prospects and the process by which nonprofits develop individual fundraising strategy. Working with your board, volunteers, and previous donors is discussed. Develop a plan, execute a strategy, and create a culture of philanthropy within your organization. An array of individual prospecting tools will be discussed, from the free to the proprietary.