Fundraising has often been described as ‘friend-raising.’ The quintessential development officer or fundraiser is able to find the match between the needs and wants of a donor and the mission of an organization. It’s finding that intersection that leads to successful philanthropy. Part storyteller. Part listener. Part relationship builder. Fully passionate.
The MS in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy recognizes that people are at the heart of these efforts, but to be a successful professional in this arena also requires skills, knowledge, cultivation, management, and good stewardship. All before making the ask.
Raising Awareness
A good fundraiser and development officer needs to know the organization: challenges, current projects, successes, and future goals. And they have to translate those elements into a responsible fundraising process. The MS in Strategic Fundraising provides you with the blueprints to support your efforts, which in turn provides invaluable support to the organization.
Your classmates will more than likely be fundraisers…or want to enter the field. Together, you’ll learn about: strategic planning, fundraising vehicles (annual funds, capital campaigns), organizational structure, how to identify potential funding sources, marketing methods (direct mail, events, social media), monitoring and evaluation, and, of course, stewardship.
And then there is the focus on you. Learning how to be confident in telling your organization’s story. How to best work with volunteers and other co-workers from events to telethons to outreach. Knowing the best time to make the connection between the donor and the organization.
Fundraising and philanthropy are fundamental to the success of many organizations. With the MS in Strategic Fundraising, you’ll make that success happen.
Two Tracks to Choose From
Take the Next Step
Participate in one of our interactive webinars: