Course Description
This course focuses on the history, theories, skills, and practices of fundraising, including how fundraising emanates from the organizations’ strategic plan; how marketing has an impact on fundraising; the components of a successful fundraising campaign; fundraising ethics and legal issues; and the basic techniques of fundraising such as annual giving, grant writing, special events, and capital campaigns. (3 credits)
Prerequisite
- OEL 501: Driving Organization Adaptability through Learning Organizations
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Explain the history of philanthropy and the philosophy of giving.
- Analyze the nature and dynamics of financial resource development for nonprofit organizations.
- Identify key ethical policies, procedures and best practices and their impact on financial resource development situations and decision-making in the nonprofit sector.
- Identify and articulate diversified financial resource development planning strategies, tactics and politics into operational decision-making for nonprofit organizations.
- Describe what current issues exist that push the financial management boundaries in nonprofit organizations' missions.
- Analyze and evaluate organizational values and vision/mission statements of nonprofit organizations.
- Explain the impact of the changing demographics on giving and philanthropy.
- Use fundraising, development, marketing and public relations, executive leadership, governance and public policy best practices and strategies to formulate, organize and design a strategic resource development plan for a nonprofit organization, including utilization of social media and professional networking sites.
- Formulate communication strategies to build community and online presence for marketing and fundraising purposes.
- Evaluate reports on the strategic and marketing plans of nonprofit organizations.
Applicable Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
- PLO 3. Develop professional communication skills.
- PLO 9. Develop strategies that support the advancement of organization's vision and mission.
- PLO 10. Apply various nonprofit fundraising principles and practices to accomplish the organization's financial goals.
- PLO 13. Conduct research utilizing online sources and databases and write research papers that analyze and synthesize information and data gathered.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Points |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
Assignments (Weeks 1, 2, 4-6) | 40% |
The Fundraising Campaign Presentation (Week 8) | 40% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Shang, J and Adrian Sargeant (2017). Fundraising Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. Wiley Publishing.
Course Schedule
| Week | PLOs | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9,10,13 | 1,7 | History and Evolution of Philanthropy Reading:
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2 | 10,13 | 3,4,5 | Ethics in Nonprofits Readings:
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3 | 9,10,13 | 5,6 | The Importance of the Mission Statement Readings:
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4 | 3,9,10,13 | 2,3,4,5 | Nonprofit Management and Leadership Readings:
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5 | 3,9,10,13 | 9 | Theories of Communication Readings:
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6 | 3,9,10,13 | 2,3,4,5 | Nonprofit Finances Readings:
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7 | 3,9,10,13 | 2,3,4,5 | Nonprofit Resources Readings:
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8 | 3,9,10,13 | 1-10 | Fundraising & Course Wrap-up |
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.