Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Course Overview

This Certificate course is a great way to progress your fundraising career. It covers all the key aspects of fundraising including current sector trends, the development of fundraising plans and the importance of donor relationships.

Learn directly from our experienced fundraisers across various fundraising channels.

It includes assessment tasks and can be delivered in three ways to suit your preferred learning mode and availability. There is a required text book to read for this course that is posted to you once you are registered.

  1. e-Learning over six months with tutor support via the Learning Hub for those who are strong independent learners who like a longer timeframe. There are self-study assessments and textbook chapter readings to complete during the six months. You are given access to the course materials for six months and do have the option to complete the course earlier.
  2. Online tutor-led is a 6-day option via Zoom spread over three months with the support of a tutor for those wanting to complete in a shorter timeframe. There are self-study assessments and textbook chapter readings to complete during the three months.

What you’ll learn

  • The Australian fundraising sector and motivations for giving
  • How to develop fundraising plans and strategies for success
  • How to build and express a case for support
  • How to evaluate and select channels to acquire new donors and grow your relationships
  • How to nurture high-value donors, gifts in Wills pledgers and corporate partnerships.

Who is this course for?

  • Entry-level fundraisers new to the profession
  • Early-career fundraisers with a few years of experience
  • Fundraisers wanting to consolidate their existing skills with formal training.

Below, you will find instructions for the FIA Learning Hub & course information for 2024.


Before registering anyone for the course, you must ask the person to set up a Log In or Sign Up in the FIA Learning Hub. Instructions are below.


Need more help?

Video Instruction: How to register for a course via the FIA Learning Hub


Available to start anytime
6 months E-learning
Online tutor-supported

Regular
Member $2650
Non member $3450

Before registering anyone for the course, you must ask the person to set up a Log In or Sign Up in the FIA Learning Hub. Instructions are below.


Online tutor-led

Module 1
17 & 24 May 2024

10.30am -4.30pm AEST

Module 2
14 & 21 June 2024

10.30am -4.30pm AEST

Module 3
26 July & 2 August 2024

10.30am -4.30pm AEST

Regular
Member $2650
Non member $3450

Before registering anyone for the course, you must ask the person to set up a Log In or Sign Up in the FIA Learning Hub. Instructions are below.


Online tutor-led

Module 1
20 & 27 September 2024

10.30am – 4.30pm AEST

Module 2
18 & 25 October 2024

10.30am – 4.30pm AEDT

Module 3
22 & 29 October 2024

10.30am – 4.30pm AEDT

Regular
Member $2650
Non member $3450

Before registering anyone for the course, you must ask the person to set up a Log In or Sign Up in the FIA Learning Hub. Instructions are below.


FIA Code
This course relates to the following aspects of the FIA Code of Conduct:

  • FIA Code 2.0 Compliance, 3.0 Ethical conduct, 4.0 Conduct towards Donors, 5.0 Conduct towards Beneficiaries and 6.0 Conduct in Supplier relationships.

Full participation in Certificate in Professional Fundraising is applicable for up to 60 continuing education points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.


Heiko Plange-Korndoerfer CFRE FFIA FAIM Chief Development Officer at Youth Focus

Heiko has extensive experience in developing and executing strategic marketing, major gifts fundraising and corporate partnership programs. He has previously worked across health, medical research, educational, community, and charitable organisations throughout Australia. Heiko holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance Investment and a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. Heiko has been a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute Australia and has represented Western Australia on the State Executive since 2010.


Ellaine Hislop EMFIA CFRE Manager Fundraising & Sponsorship
Perth Zoo

Ellaine Hislop has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 25 years. Being able to help organisations contribute to a better world has been a driving force behind her decision to make fundraising her career. Ellaine believes that helping generous supporters connect with a cause they feel passionate about is what makes being a fundraiser as fulfilling.

Ellaine’s passion in the not-for-profit sector began in New Zealand and she is currently at Perth Zoo.

Ellaine has worked with various causes – including animal health and welfare, rescue, education, and medical research organisations.

Ellaine’s passion lies with smaller for purpose organisations. In particular assisting them to develop and grow development program strategies including individual giving, bequests, major gifts, stewardship, communications, and donor journeys.


Maisa Lopes Gomes MFIA
Head of Digital Fundraising

Maisa is the Head of Digital Fundraising at Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA), a Not-for-Profit (NP) transforming the lives of people living with cerebral palsy. Maisa has more than 10 years of practical experience in multiple areas of fundraising including P2P, Gifts in Will and Events. She specialised in Digital Fundraising and is considered a leader in the sector in this field, presenting in conferences and facilitating courses as a subject matter expert. Maisa was the Gifts in Wills manager at CPA from 2015-2017, leading the organisation to win the FIA Award for the best Gifts in Wills Campaign for a large org in 2018.

Maisa has been involved with the STEPtember campaign since year one in 2011, and was part of the core Leadership team who led the campaign to fundraise $11M in 2020 and $18M in 2021 ($10M growth in comparison to 2019 $8M). During her 10-years of employment at CPA, the wider Fundraising team has raised more than A$300M for cerebral palsy.

Maisa is an activist at heart, she likes to experiment with creativity & digitalism. Her vision is to be a social change agent & inspire meaningful, positive, and lasting socio-cultural change at a global level. She is a life-long learner and had a bachelor degree in Graphic Design, formal qualification in Website Development, Marketing, Fundraising Data and Digital Business Strategy via the MIT.


Click here for FIA Education terms and conditions