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Work Toward Your CFRE Certification

Fundraising Certificate Series

Fundraising and fund development is critical to ensure a nonprofit organization is able to best serve its mission and constituents. When done well, fundraising also gives nonprofit professionals an opportunity to promote the message and goals of their organization.

The Fundraising Certificate Series at St. Thomas gives you the tools and information to balance the priorities of furthering the mission and funding the work, and it gets you a step closer to earning your CFRE certification.

We have the most comprehensive fundraising certificate program in Minnesota, taught by experts who bridge the theory and practice of fundraising and development. The St. Thomas Fundraising Certificate Series is CFRE® (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certified and consists of 13 individual programs, each covering a specific facet of the fundraising field.

See Spring 2022 Program Schedule

Contact

Jordan Lutter

Associate Program Manager
Jordan Lutter headshot.
Email
jordan.lutter@stthomas.edu
Phone Number
651-962-4131

Fundraising Certificate Series Courses

Cost: $195
Contact Hours: 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Explore the philosophy, theory and practice for achieving a successful annual giving program. To take this course, you should have 1-5 years of development experience.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours: 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Learn techniques for soliciting major gifts, identifying potential benefactors, effectively cultivating gifts and exploring pitfalls and opportunities in requesting gifts.
Cost: $105
Contact Hours: 3.75
CEUs: 0.4

Have you ever wondered why the fees you charge for your services are not covering your costs? This program will help you combine the budget and program planning process.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Explore the motivational factors that influence donor behavior. Develop interviewing skills to discover what individually motivates donors and how to apply that to help donors make giving decisions.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours 6.5
CEUs: 0.7  

Originally created for grant writers, this program has proven useful for grant reviewers, too. Analyze each section of a proposal outline and learn how to research potential funders. The course will also teach you how to write a grant proposal.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Learn how to prepare a development plan, manage a successful development operation, manage the accountability and productivity of your staff and manage a department budget.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Find out how to launch a career in fundraising. Learn about the fundraiser, CEO and board relationship, as well as the important ties between strategic planning and visioning.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Determine the ROI of each initiative with a simple framework to meet program evaluation requirements. You are invited to bring a specific program evaluation problem to class.

Cost: $195
Contact Hours 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Throughout this daylong course, participants work on developing a pitch to a potential donor. This course is geared toward marketing and communication personnel from the nonprofit and executive directors.

Cost: $195
Contact Hours: 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Learn to use data to drive results. Create ratings, policies and reports on prospects and analyze these to determine the next steps for prospects.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours: 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

Explore the theory, practice, behaviors and skills identified with leadership. Readings and discussions ask you to think about your personal and professional future.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours: 6.5
CEUs: 0.7  

Learn about campaign theory and successful fundraising efforts. Find out more about organizational readiness, donor cultivation and an overview of gift planning vehicles.
Cost: $195
Contact Hours: 6.5
CEUs: 0.7

In this course, you will learn the background and history of foundations and corporate sponsorship for nonprofit organization, as well as current foundation gifting trends.
Students and staff agencies network and connect with each other.

Is This Program Right for You?

The St. Thomas Fundraising Certificate Series is ideal for:

  • Nonprofit leaders who want to implement a successful fundraising development plan
  • Individuals hoping to network with other nonprofit and fundraising professionals
  • Young professionals exploring career options, or transitioning to the nonprofit or fundraising sector
  • Experienced fundraisers seeking to improve their fundraising leadership skills
  • People pursuing CFRE Certification
Tessa Wetjen, program instructor and program officer at Otto Bremer Trust, talks about how vital it is for program participants to understand fundraising as a whole. She goes on to explain that oftentimes, professional in the nonprofit sector equate fundraising to one aspect like grant writing, but it's much more than that.

Fundraising Certificate Series

The Fundraising Certificate Series is CFRE® (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certified. By completing all 13 programs in the series, you will earn the 80 education hours needed to fulfill the education requirement to receive your CFRE certification, which will set you apart as a motivated fundraising expert. Take 9 of the 13 Fundraising programs to get the St. Thomas Fundraising Certificate.

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Take the Next Step

St. Thomas Executive Education programs give you cutting-edge, practical knowledge and real-world skills you can apply at work the very next day. Gain the tools and techniques to be a more effective, strategic leader.
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