Fundraising Operations Certificate

Program Completion Requirements:

Once you have successfully completed all six online fundraising operations courses, you may apply for the capstone course. The capstone course includes a total of 12 hours of additional content presented through three class sessions and a final class session that provides participants the opportunity to present their practicum project to the lead instructor, fellow cohort participants and their mentor. The practicum project is an individual strategic project that requires a written paper and presentation submission.

Participants have five years from the time they complete the first course online fundraising operations to finish all six classes and apply for the capstone course.

Fees and Refund Policy

Individual course pricing: $285 (discounts available for AASP, APRA and AFP members)

Capstone course pricing: $1,695 AASP APRA and AFP members: $1,440

• If applying by July 6: $1,495 AASP, APRA and AFP members: $1,270

Alternative Payment Options

Payment plan options are available for the Capstone course by request. Payment plans will not be granted after the start of the program. Contact the program coordinator for the required forms needed to request this option.

Refund Policy

No refunds will be issued on or after the start date of the program. Fees will be refunded in-full when enrollments are canceled in writing ten (10) business days before the program start date. For enrollment cancellations submitted in writing less than two weeks before the program start date, a 20% processing fee will be deducted from the overall refund.

Capstone Application Process

To begin the application process for the capstone course, the final step to earn the Fundraising Operations Certificate, please submit the following completed forms: the program application form, résumé or curriculum vitae, a personal statement and one professional letter of recommendation.

Once all required documents are received, completed files are reviewed after the application deadline. Decisions regarding admittance into the program are made by an admissions committee and applicants will receive an official decision letter within two weeks from the review period.

Applications received after the deadline are considered on a space-available basis, after the initial group of applicants has been considered.

Early Application Deadline: Friday, July 6, 2018 (includes a discount)
General Application Deadline: Friday, August 10, 2018

Mail completed applications to:
Rice University
Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership
PO Box 1892 - MS 550
Houston, TX 77251-1892

For additional information regarding the application process, please contact our program coordinator at 713-348-6009 or email cpnl@rice.edu.

Participants must complete all of the six online courses listed below before applying for the capstone. Fundraising operations courses are available in the spring session.

Essentials of Gift Administration

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the essentials of gift processing and record maintenance
• Understand best practices in a donor-centered environment
• Gain awareness of special cases and complex donor transactions

Donor Relations: Maintaining Strong Relationships with Your Donors

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the essentials of donor relations efforts
• Understand best practices in gift acceptance and acknowledgement
• Recognize the importance and process involved with strategic stewardship including reporting requirements and recognition

Fundamentals of Constituent Relationship Management

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the essentials of prospect management coding, analysis and reporting
• Understand best practices in a donor-centered environment
• Determine how prospect management effectively works with gift officers

Fundraising Analytics: Leveraging the Power of Data

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the essentials of data analytics and how it impacts fundraising efficiency and planning
• Gain awareness of the needed data to be tracked to have highest impact with analytics
• Utilize analytics at your nonprofit organization

Fundraising Systems Management, Reporting and Business Intelligence

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the essentials of database management and data integrity
• Understand best practices in reporting and utilizing information for decision support
• Gain awareness of the application of data to fundraising metric and planning
• Understand best practices in sharing essential data across your organization
• Gain awareness and understanding of different fundraising database system

Prospect Research and Analysis

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the essentials of ethical prospect research, analysis and reporting
• Understand best practices in translating research into actionable intelligence
• Gain awareness on how prospect research collaborates with other departments

The six courses must be completed in the spring session prior to applying for the capstone course in the fall.

Please note, you may take any of the six online operations courses to advance your skillset without committing to the full certificate. You have five years from the time you complete the first course to finish all six classes and apply for the capstone to earn the certificate.

Join us for an upcoming free, online information session.

• Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 1-1:30 p.m. Central time
• Thursday, March 7, 2019, 10-10:30 a.m. Central time
• Tuesday, April 16, 2019, 1-1:30 p.m. Central time
• Thursday, June 27, 2019, 1-1:30 p.m. Central time (capstone-specific)

secure your spot

Please email cpnl@rice.edu or call 713-348-6009 with any questions.