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Course

Major Gifts and Planned Giving

BUSA-X410.24

This course teaches students to identify, cultivate, engage, solicit, and steward major donors. Learn basic planned giving concepts, discuss gift vehicles, address donor objections, and create a comprehensive major gift plan that integrates major and planned giving strategies, supporting organizations of any size and stage to meet budget, capital, and growth goals. 

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

  • Define, design, and implement successful strategies to secure major gifts
  • Research, analyze, and identify potential major donors
  • Practice, conduct, and document effective interactions with prospects
  • Recognize and interpret conversation cues when engaging donors and explain the basics of planned giving
  • Explain and apply fundamental concepts of planned giving
  • Develop and integrate a planned giving program into an organization’s fundraising strategy


Certified Fund Raising Executive 2026 Logo

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.
Ready to register for the next session? Scroll down to the "Course Sessions" area, click on the course bar to explore details like the instructor's bio, required textbook, and refund deadline, then select "Add to Cart" to secure your spot!

Course Information

Live Online
2.00 units
$425.00
Notes: Required Textbook: The Ask: For Business, For Philanthropy, For Everday Living , 1st Edition
Author: Laura Fredricks ISBN / ASIN: 9781119374497.
The textbook can be purchased through the UC San Diego Bookstore or any other online retailer.

This course can be taken on a stand-alone basis or counted towards the Professional Certificate in Fundraising and Development.

Click here for more information about the financial resources available.

Course sessions

Closed

Section ID:

199963

Class type:

Synchronous web-based class meetings that are scheduled to meet online at published times (time/date).

Textbooks:

The Ask: For Business, For Philanthropy, For Everday Living 1st
by Laura Fredricks

ISBN / ASIN: 9781119374497

You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 8/11/2026

Note:

Students and the instructor meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 9:00pm PT. Class sessions are recorded and available in Canvas, along with additional asynchronous course materials.

Schedule:

Date Day Start End
8/5/2026 Wed 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
8/12/2026 Wed 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
8/19/2026 Wed 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
8/26/2026 Wed 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
9/2/2026 Wed 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
9/9/2026 Wed 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Closed

Instructor:

Danielle Dawson
Danielle Dawson

Currently the Chief Advancement Officer at Promises2Kids, Dani is a visionary leader dedicated to fostering a culture of philanthropy.  Most recently, as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at California Western School of Law, Dani undertook a multifaceted approach to fundraising that yielded remarkable results. In her first six months as the VPIA, Dani's impact was immediately evident as she more than doubled the amount of philanthropic gifts raised for the law school. Her relentless dedication and strategic acumen have been instrumental in propelling the institution’s philanthropic efforts to new heights. Within her first 18 months in this pivotal role, Dani achieved a groundbreaking milestone by securing a remarkable $3,000,000 gift. This landmark donation stands as the largest in the law school’s history, a testament to her ability to connect donors with a compelling vision.

Before her tenure at California Western School of Law, Dani served as the Executive Director of Gift Planning at UC San Diego, where she led a team that achieved extraordinary success by raising over $86,000,000 in just one year, developed a model for fundraisers to work more collaboratively across the institution, and lead an effort to compile and publish stories from philanthropic women in San Diego titled She Who Inspires. Her remarkable achievements at UC San Diego underscore her ability to drive philanthropic initiatives to unprecedented levels of excellence. Dani possesses a genuine passion for helping individuals realize their philanthropic aspirations through creative and thoughtful planning and she uses this passion to maximize philanthropic success.

Dani’s educational background includes a JD from Chapman University School of Law and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Dani is a Past President of AFP San Diego, a member of Women Give San Diego, and a volunteer for Casa Cornelia. When not talking about philanthropy, Dani enjoys spending time with her teenage children, Dawson and Riley.

Full Bio
add to cart

Section ID:

E 00005204

Class type:

Synchronous web-based class meetings that are scheduled to meet online at published times (time/date).

Textbooks:

The Ask: For Business, For Philanthropy, For Everday Living 1st. Author: Laura Fredricks, ISBN / ASIN: 9781119374497.

Policies:

Withdrawal End Date:

10/20/2026

Note:

Students and the instructor meet weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 8:00pm PT. Class sessions are recorded and available in Canvas for students to review.

Schedule:

Date Day Start End
10/13/2026 Tuesday 05:00 p.m. 08:00 p.m.
10/20/2026 Tuesday 05:00 p.m. 08:00 p.m.
10/27/2026 Tuesday 05:00 p.m. 08:00 p.m.
11/3/2026 Tuesday 05:00 p.m. 08:00 p.m.
11/10/2026 Tuesday 05:00 p.m. 08:00 p.m.
11/17/2026 Tuesday 05:00 p.m. 08:00 p.m.
add to cart

Instructor:

Danielle Dawson
Danielle Dawson

Currently the Chief Advancement Officer at Promises2Kids, Dani is a visionary leader dedicated to fostering a culture of philanthropy.  Most recently, as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at California Western School of Law, Dani undertook a multifaceted approach to fundraising that yielded remarkable results. In her first six months as the VPIA, Dani's impact was immediately evident as she more than doubled the amount of philanthropic gifts raised for the law school. Her relentless dedication and strategic acumen have been instrumental in propelling the institution’s philanthropic efforts to new heights. Within her first 18 months in this pivotal role, Dani achieved a groundbreaking milestone by securing a remarkable $3,000,000 gift. This landmark donation stands as the largest in the law school’s history, a testament to her ability to connect donors with a compelling vision.

Before her tenure at California Western School of Law, Dani served as the Executive Director of Gift Planning at UC San Diego, where she led a team that achieved extraordinary success by raising over $86,000,000 in just one year, developed a model for fundraisers to work more collaboratively across the institution, and lead an effort to compile and publish stories from philanthropic women in San Diego titled She Who Inspires. Her remarkable achievements at UC San Diego underscore her ability to drive philanthropic initiatives to unprecedented levels of excellence. Dani possesses a genuine passion for helping individuals realize their philanthropic aspirations through creative and thoughtful planning and she uses this passion to maximize philanthropic success.

Dani’s educational background includes a JD from Chapman University School of Law and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Dani is a Past President of AFP San Diego, a member of Women Give San Diego, and a volunteer for Casa Cornelia. When not talking about philanthropy, Dani enjoys spending time with her teenage children, Dawson and Riley.

Full Bio