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Regular small donations can minimally sustain an organization for a while, but frequently development professionals must develop a plan to meet annual budget or capital needs for future growth. In this course students will learn to identify, cultivate, engage, solicit and steward major donors. Additionally, students will learn the basic planned giving concepts and how to discuss different gift vehicles with donors, whether to share with a donor how to leverage an asset to maximize their giving or to overcome objections. Students will learn how to create a major gift plan that will incorporate all elements of major and planned giving that will be useful for an organization at any stage and any size. 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will:

  • Define and develop successful strategies to secure major gifts
  • Research and identify potential donors
  • Practice, conduct, and document interactions with prospects
  • Identify conversation cues when speaking with donors and share the basics of planned giving
  • Understand the basic concepts of planned giving
  • Market planned gifts and Incorporate a planned giving program into their organization
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Full participation in Major Gifts and Planned Giving is applicable for 20 points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

Note: Although you can take any course in any order we recommend you start from the required course Introduction to Fundraising and Development. If you are not interested in pursuing the Professional Certificate in Fundraising and Development you can enroll in any single class.

Enroll in our free online Fundraising and Development Information Session HERE to learn how our fully online Fundraising and Development Certificate and career services can help you shape your career plans.

For questions, please contact the Program Manager at FRDevProgram@ucsd.edu.

Course Number: BUSA-41024
Credit: 2.00 unit(s)
Related Certificate Programs: Fundraising and Development

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