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Fundraising Courses Online

Master fundraising techniques for non-profit organizations. Learn to develop fundraising strategies, manage campaigns, and engage donors.

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Explore the Fundraising Course Catalog

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Davis

    Fundraising and Development

    Skills you'll gain: Fundraising, Grant Writing, Proposal Writing, Prospecting and Qualification, Philanthropy, Campaign Management, Tax Planning, Direct Marketing, Business Writing, Customer Relationship Building, Marketing Strategies, Relationship Building, Estate Planning, Benefits Administration, Administration, Target Audience, Email Marketing, Telemarketing, Stakeholder Management, Negotiation

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    384 reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Davis

    Fundraising and Development Foundations

    Skills you'll gain: Fundraising, Grant Writing, Prospecting and Qualification, Philanthropy, Proposal Writing, Campaign Management, Business Writing, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Relationship Management, Communication Strategies

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    325 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    U

    University of Pennsylvania

    Crowdfunding

    Skills you'll gain: Fundraising and Crowdsourcing, Fraud detection, Campaign Management, Social Media, Presentations, Budgeting, Entrepreneurship, Community Development, Driving engagement, Promotional Strategies, Planning, Consumer Behaviour, Decision Making

    4.5
    Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
    ·
    415 reviews

    Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free
    Free
    G

    Goldman Sachs

    Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

    Skills you'll gain: Grant Writing, Business Development, Financial Planning, Financial Management, Business Strategy, Financial Analysis, Mergers & Acquisitions, Loans, Fundraising, Stakeholder Communications, Cash Flows

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    247 reviews

    Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • C

    Coursera Project Network

    Create a fundraising page on Chuffed

    Skills you'll gain: Fundraising, Goal Setting, Campaign Management, Project Design, Drive Engagement, Content Creation

    4.3
    Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
    ·
    6 reviews

    Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Washington

    Speaking to persuade: Motivating audiences with solid arguments and moving language

    Skills you'll gain: Persuasive Communication, Public Speaking, Verbal Communication Skills, Storytelling, Driving engagement, Communication Strategies, Action Oriented, Constructive Feedback, Non-Verbal Communication

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    341 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

  • Status: New
    New
    D

    Duke University

    Impact Investment Finance

    Skills you'll gain: Investments, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Fundraising, Capital Markets, Financial Market, Financial Management, Finance, International Finance, Entrepreneurial Finance, Entrepreneurship, Fiscal Management, Business Strategy, Business Management

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    13 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Davis

    Annual Campaigns: Building a Case for Support

    Skills you'll gain: Fundraising, Campaign Management, Direct Marketing, Customer Relationship Building, Target Audience, Email Marketing, Telemarketing, Lead Generation, Event Management, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Communication Strategies

    4.2
    Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
    ·
    51 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    U

    University of Pennsylvania

    Introduction to Nonprofit Law

    Skills you'll gain: Fundraising, Non-Profit Accounting, Philanthropy, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Governance, Compliance Management, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Lobbying, Labor Law, Accountability, Tax Laws, Advocacy, Organizational Structure

    4.9
    Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
    ·
    15 reviews

    Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free
    Free
    S

    Stanford University

    Giving 2.0: The MOOC

    Skills you'll gain: Philanthropy, Fundraising, Resource Utilization, Community Development, Program Evaluation, Lifelong Learning, Strategic Decision-Making, Professional Networking, Social Media, Planning, Research

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    200 reviews

    Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Davis

    Planned Giving

    Skills you'll gain: Fundraising, Philanthropy, Tax Planning, Marketing Strategies, Relationship Building, Estate Planning, Benefits Administration, Administration, Business Software, Educational Materials, Professional Networking, Tax Laws

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    36 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • C

    Coursera Project Network

    Use Mailchimp to Build an E-mail Marketing Campaign

    Skills you'll gain: Email Marketing, Advertising Mail, Direct Marketing, Campaign Management, Marketing Materials, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Target Audience, Registration, Design, Business

    4.5
    Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
    ·
    373 reviews

    Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular fundraising courses

  • Fundraising and Development: University of California, Davis
  • Fundraising and Development Foundations: University of California, Davis
  • Crowdfunding: University of Pennsylvania
  • Fundamentals of Funding, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women: Goldman Sachs
  • Create a fundraising page on Chuffed: Coursera Project Network
  • Speaking to persuade: Motivating audiences with solid arguments and moving language: University of Washington
  • Impact Investment Finance: Duke University
  • Annual Campaigns: Building a Case for Support: University of California, Davis
  • Introduction to Nonprofit Law: University of Pennsylvania
  • Giving 2.0: The MOOC: Stanford University

Skills you can learn in Finance

Investment (23)
Market (economics) (20)
Stock (18)
Financial Statement (14)
Financial Accounting (13)
Modeling (13)
Corporate Finance (11)
Financial Analysis (11)
Trading (11)
Evaluation (10)
Financial Markets (10)
Pricing (10)

Frequently Asked Questions about Fundraising

Fundraising is how nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, arts and cultural groups, charities, and other entities with a social purpose meet their budgetary needs. By building relationships with foundations, philanthropists, corporate sponsors, and individual supporters, these organizations are able to pursue their important work without having to sell their products or services at a profit or otherwise compromise their mission.

While fundraising is different from the way private companies raise capital from investors in exchange for equity or dividends, it isn’t necessarily easier. Fundraising and development professionals rely on marketing just like any other business in order to connect with potential donors whose interests match their organization’s and goals. And just like a private company, the support of the board of directors is critical to maintain, as they are an important conduit to both funding opportunities and guidance in keeping the organization’s operations aligned with its mission.‎

If you have a talent for connecting with people, strong budget management skills, and want to make a difference in the world, a background in fundraising can be a gateway to a rewarding career. Nonprofit organizations of all kinds rely on fundraising experts including development directors, grantwriters, and donor relations staff to make their important work possible.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fundraisers earn a median annual salary of $57,970, and typically have an educational background in public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business. These jobs are expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade, and, with charitable giving rebounding along with the economy, these professionals are needed more than ever.‎

Definitely. Successful nonprofit fundraising requires a specialized set of skills and knowledge, and Coursera offers a range of opportunities to learn them online on a flexible schedule. You can take individual courses on fundraising as well as Specializations spanning multiple courses from top-ranked schools like University of California Davis, The State University of New York at Buffalo, and University of Maryland College Park. And, because your tuition will be significantly lower than for on-campus students, learning about fundraising on Coursera can be a smart choice to help you manage your own budget.‎

While you don't necessarily need any special skills or experience to study fundraising, a background volunteering or working for a nonprofit can be helpful. A background working in fields like education, business, or public relations may also be beneficial. Many people who focused on humanities courses at the high school and college level, such as philosophy, gender studies, English, or art history, find themselves gravitating towards learning about fundraising and development. Any experience with research, social media, writing, and event planning can also help prepare you for both learning fundraising and possibly turning that education into a career.‎

Working in fundraising or development means you should be a good manager, both of projects and people. That means you'll also need to be a good communicator, with both superb written and verbal skills. Because you'll be asking people to give money, you must be assertive, even when dealing with such a sensitive topic. People who work in fundraising are motivated and especially dedicated to the cause for which they are raising money. You must also be able to multitask. In addition to managing a particular fundraiser or group of people working on a fundraiser, you may need to write grants, cultivate new donor relationships, execute social media campaigns, plan events, seek corporate sponsorships, and more.‎

There is no one specific path towards a career in fundraising, but there are several subjects you can study that can help you get there. Communications, public relations, English, and journalism are always beneficial. You can also prepare yourself for a role in fundraising by learning more about business, finance, sales, marketing, and advertising.‎

Nonprofits are the top employers for people who have a background in fundraising. This might include religious, civic, or professional organizations. Educational institutions, ranging from private preschools to colleges and universities may also depend on fundraising. Health care institutions, hospitals, and social assistance programs may hire people with a background in fundraising and development. You may even find yourself working at a museum or theater.‎

Online Fundraising courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Fundraising skills. Choose from a wide range of Fundraising courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Fundraising, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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