Program Overview

Certificate in Fundraising

The Professional Certificate in Fundraising is designed for those working in fundraising, marketing, finance, nonprofit management, and related fields who are interested in gaining a greater understanding of the various frameworks, tools, and strategies of the field. This certificate consists of three required courses and three electives.

Program Overview

The program is offered online and requires the completion of 6 courses. The estimated total certificate cost is $4,200, based on course prices for the academic year 2024-2025, subject to change.

Why This Certificate?

The Certificate in Fundraising equips students with practical skills to succeed in the nonprofit sector and advance their organization's mission. The program offers:

• Expertise in key fundraising strategies, including annual campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, and donor relations
• Instruction by seasoned professionals who bring real-world experience and insights into the classroom
• A hands-on approach and focus on actionable knowledge, enabling students to apply what they learn immediately to their current role
• The opportunity to enhance career credentials, with an NYU certificate recognized as a mark of academic excellence and professional achievement

What You'll Study

The program includes:

REQUIRED COURSES

• Fundraising Concepts and Practices: Learn theories and concepts of fundraising, from the basics to new ideas, with applications to practical cases and situations
• Writing for Fundraising: Grantwriting and Case Statements: Learn how to write effective grant proposals and case statements
• Law, Ethics, and Board Governance in Nonprofit Organizations: Examine institutions, processes, and policies related to ethical behavior, legal compliance, and effective governance in the nonprofit sector

ELECTIVES

Please choose three courses from the following options:

• Major Gifts for Nonprofit Organizations: Learn about the solicitation process and management tools, such as moves management, prospect research, and identification of major prospects
• Corporate and Foundation Philanthropy: Examine the philosophy that motivates corporate and foundation giving, reviewing past and current trends and priorities
• Philanthropy and Fiscal Management: Gain a basic overview of nonprofit financial management, including tax-exempt status, financial statement preparation, and reporting
• Planned Giving: Bequests, Gift Annuities, Trusts, Donor-Advised Funds, and Other Gift Vehicles: Discuss planned giving techniques and their benefits, tax and otherwise, to encourage donors to leave meaningful charitable legacies
• AI-Powered Digital Storytelling for Fundraising: Tools, Strategy, and Practice: Learn to leverage digital platforms to effectively raise awareness about a cause, diversify fundraising, and innovate to become more relevant
• Strategies for Donor Analytics, Moves Management, and Prospect Research: Learn to analyze and apply fundraising data to improve donor relations and fundraising efforts
• Public-Private Partnerships: Leveraging Success: Explore how shifts in political and policy priorities, business, and philanthropy are shaping the next generation of public-private partnerships
• Social Media and Email Fundraising: Creating Engaged Communities in Uncertain Times: Learn how to use social media, email marketing, and messaging apps to build digital communities and run effective fundraising campaigns
• Endowment Strategies: Endowments, Foundations and DAFs: Examine the role of endowments in nonprofit financial management and explore strategies for building and managing endowments

Career Opportunities

The NYU SPS Certificate in Fundraising prepares students for a variety of roles in the nonprofit and fundraising sectors, including:

• Fundraising Manager/Director: Oversee and manage fundraising campaigns, develop donor relations, and drive revenue for nonprofit organizations
• Development Officer: Lead efforts in cultivating donor relationships, securing major gifts, and planning long-term fundraising strategies
• Major Gifts Officer: Focus on building and managing high-level donor relationships, securing large donations, and coordinating major gift campaigns
• Grant Writer: Research and write proposals for grants from foundations, corporations, and government sources to support nonprofit initiatives
• Planned Giving Officer: Specialize in managing bequests, legacy gifts, and other planned giving initiatives to ensure long-term sustainability for nonprofits
• Philanthropy Consultant: Provide strategic advice and fundraising expertise to organizations seeking to improve their fundraising efforts

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why earn the Certificate in Fundraising? The NYU SPS Certificate in Fundraising prepares students for a variety of roles in the nonprofit and fundraising sectors.
• In what order should I take classes? There is no required sequence for courses, however, it is suggested that students take one of the two required courses in the first semester.
• How much time should I dedicate to this program on a weekly basis? Courses are designed for working professionals, and expected time commitments vary by course and familiarity with course content, but students generally report that they spend 2-4 hours per week on coursework outside of class time on average.