What is the Certificate in Fundraising Management?
The Certificate in Fundraising Management is the professional qualification for fundraisers, awarded to those who have successfully demonstrated competence across a range of fundraising disciplines in two key areas: Fundraising Practice and Managing Fundraising.
The Certificate covers many aspects of work including planning and organising, coping with change, problem solving and the ability to work with colleagues and others.It provides the building blocks on which fundraisers can plan their professional development.
It also acts as a framework for a host of applications such as recruitment, appraisal, training, team-building and personal development all linking directly to organisational and fundraising objectives.
What does the Certificate consist of?
There are two modules that make up the certificate; Fundraising Practice and Managing Fundraising.
Fundraising Practice Module
This module focuses on the process involved in practical fundraising linked to the ‘Fundraising Cycle’. It identifies the skills and knowledge that candidates need to demonstrate effective fundraising practice. Requirements:
- Establishing the need for support
- Communicating that need to your audience
- Plan, organise, allocate and monitor resources
- Demonstrate the ability to manage an effective and productive working relationship with others
- Implement the fundraising plans
- The ability to evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising
- Managing oneself
Managing Fundraising Module
This module concerns the management of fundraising and fundraisers. Linking fundraising to the strategic aims of the organisation, together with the strategic vision for fundraising, is vital if fundraisers are to contribute to organisational development. Requirements
- Identify an organisation’s fundraising requirements
- Research and analyse information to produce and support a fundraising strategy
- Develop a fundraising strategy
- Problem solving
- Assess the impact and contribution of fundraising in the achievement of objectives
- Working with others to achieve fundraising objectives
To be successful, candidates must demonstrate competence against all the requirements in both modules. Some exemptions may apply.
Contact the Professional Development Team for further details.
Do I have to be an Individual member of the Institute to be awarded the Certificate?
Yes – although you may pursue the training as valuable in its own right, you will only be awarded the Certificate in Fundraising Management if you are a member of the Institute of Fundraising.
Those who achieve the Certificate become Full Certificated members and are entitled to use the post-nominals MInstF(Cert) after their name. You, or perhaps your employer on your behalf, should consider taking out membership of the Institute of Fundraising.
Are there any entry criteria?
There are no specific entry qualifications, however it is suggested that you will need at least three years' experience in fundraising.
You do not have to be a member of the Institute to register for the Certificate, or to undertake training - however, to be awarded the Certificate, you must be a current member. If you are not a member you are advised to apply for membership when you register.
How do I study for the Certificate?
- Fundraising Programme and assignments. Courses that the Institute runs for individuals.
- In-house programme. Tailored training for groups in organisations.
Supported assessment. Mentoring route for more experienced fundraisers. Higher Education Route.Open University and other University Programmes. Private Training Providers. Training providers offering courses to cover one or both of the Certificate modules. There are two courses within the Fundraising Programme (a programme of courses run in collaboration with the DSC), that cover both modules of the certificate. They are the Foundation Course in Fundraising Practice and Managing Fundraising. Upon completion of these, with your portfolio assessed and once you become a member of the Institute, you will receive the Certificate in Fundraising Management. Foundation Course in Fundraising Practice (4 days)
This course can ‘stand alone’ as a training course in its own right. However, it has been developed specifically to address the Fundraising Practice module of the Certificate.
If someone wishes to use this course as the route to achieving Part 1 of the Certificate, you will need to complete an additional 'assignment'. The course is run by Institute Licensed Trainer and your assignment will be assessed by Institute Licensed Assessors.
Price
As with the other courses in the fundraising programme, the price of the course depends on the annual turnover of the organisation that you work for:
Band A: £730 (turnover of £500k or less)
Band B: £850 (turnover of £500k or more)
Band C: £990 (the price for those from commercial organisations)
Individual Institute of Fundraising members receive a 10% discount on these prices. If you are not a member, you can choose to join once you have registered for the Certificate.
For those who wish to achieve the Certificate, there is an additional fee of £200. This is made up of a £50 registration fee, and £150 for the assessment of your assignment.
2010: Prices will include the assessment cost and only the one-off £50 accreditation fee is required. Institute members: £1005, Institute non-members £1105.
Managing Fundraising Course (5 days)
If you wish to use this course as the route to achieving Part 2 of the Certificate, you will need to complete an additional ‘portfolio of evidence’. Unlike the other courses in the Fundraising Programme, there is a fixed price, and the cost of assessment to achieve the Certificate is included in the course price.
Non-members pay: £1340
Members pay: £1205 (10% discount)
2010 Prices: Institute members: £1280 Institute non-members £1410
If you have not already registered for the Certificate whilst taking the Foundation Course, you will need to pay an additional £50 fee.
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As well as public courses for individuals, the Institute offers in-house programmes for organisations that have 14 or more people who want to achieve the certificate. Examples of those who have recently benefitted from an in-house programme include Macmillan Cancer Support and Help the Hospices.
If you would like your organisation to benefit from this tailored approach, but have fewer than 14 people you’d like to take part – no problem. We can partner your organisation with another (similar) charity and offer a joint programme for you both. An example of those who have completed training in this way includes Alzheimer’s Society and National Trust.
The ‘in house’ route to the Certificate follows the principles of a combination of training and assignment, but the added benefit is that it can be tailored to the particular focus of your organisation.
Price
The programme follows the Certificate ‘framework’ but can be adjusted to meet your organisation’s needs. Prices vary depending on a number of factors including: whether the organisation is an Institute Organisational member, whether the Certificate training is covering one or both of the modules and delegate numbers.
Contact
Enquiries about arranging these programmes should be passed to the Institute's Director of Learning, Paul Marvell.
This route is recommended for fundraisers that have at least three years' experience. This work-based route offers a structured, supported mode of working towards the Certificate based on your existing skills and knowledge.
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This route relies on you working with your chosen Assessor to demonstrate the competence requirements of the Certificate. All Licensed Assessors are Institute members and skilled practitioners with at least five years' experience in senior fundraising management or training within the not-for-profit sector.
Your Licensed Assessor will work with you on a one-to-one basis or will organise group programmes to enable you to demonstrate your fundraising competence.
Completion times for this route range from six months to two years depending on candidates' skills, experience and level of commitment.
Licensed Assessors are committed to the Institute’s Codes of Conduct. They are trained to National Occupational Standards of competence in assessment as well as being committed to their own development.
Please click here to find out a little bit more about our assessors. You can also contact them via email below.
England and Wales
Gill Jolly
Bill Giles
Howard Rose
Valerie Morton
Sheron Ferguson
Ilene Hoyle
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Susan Robinson
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Open University ‘Winning Resources and Support’
This course has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Certificate of Fundraising Management. This is a more flexible, distance learning route to the certificate.
You will join a regionally based group of students with a tutor with whom you can communicate with and your tutor will mark your assignments and provide online support and guidance.
The course takes six months to complete and a number of participants have become qualified members in this way. It also merits 30 credit points towards an Open University degree.
‘Winning Resources and Support’ starts annually in November, with registration closing at the end of September.
Price
The cost of the Winning Resources and Support course is £995.For those who wish to be awarded the Certificate there is an additional £50 fee.
For an overview of what the course can offer you as a learning experience, and the contribution you will need to make in return download the Winning Resources and Support sampler booklet.
If you use iTunes you can access complementary material to Winning Resources and Support in the iTunes U. Included are discussions on Campaigns, Trust Fundraising, Major Donor Fundraising, and Legacy Fundraising.
Contact
For more information on content and how to enrol in the course, visit the Open University website.
The Institute has partnered with several Universities to deliver the requirements of the two modules Managing Fundraising and Fundraising Practice within usually a degree level course. It may not be the reason for undertaking a degree course but the modules are covered within it.
In all cases, the courses and accompanying assignments and/or exams will meet the full requirements of one or both Certificate modules - with no requirement to submit anything additional to the Institute. Whether Part 1, Part 2 or the whole Certificate can be awarded varies according to the nature of the course, and the provider, and full details are available in the course content.
Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Cass Business School (City University London)
MSc in Charity Marketing and Fundraising
Intended for highly motivated Fundraising professionals with either a first degree of three years relevant experience, this part-time MSc provides accessible, academically robust knowledge and skills that can be practically applied in the workplace.
Course start date: October each year
Course length: 18 months (Diploma – 12 months, MSc conversion – 6 months)
Fees: £7,750 (Diploma - £5,250, MSc conversion £2,500)
Tel: 020 7040 5114 – Ute Spittler or visit Cass Business School website
London South Bank University, Centre for Government and Charity Management
MSc Charity Marketing and Fundraising, Postgraduate Certificate in Charity Marketing and Fundraising
Designed for ambitious fundraising professionals keen to develop their fundraising potential through a two year masters or one year certificate course. These part-time courses are academically sound and built on practical applications of fundraising and marketing within the not for profit sector.
Course start date: End September each year
Course length: One or two years
Fees: Certificate £1,400 MSc £3,500
Tel: 0207 815 6194 or 0207 815 7760 and speak to either Peter Maple or Nigel Scott or visit the London South Bank University website.
Sheffield Hallam University
MSc Charity Resource Management
Comprising Charity Fundraising Practice and Charity Fundraising Management & Governance, this two-module course covers the full requirements of the CiFM and provides 30 university postgraduate credits. Participants are normally drawn from a wide variety of organisations with charitable status, and this interaction in the class is one of the key features
Course start date: September (for Charity Fundraising Practice). (However, students wishing to take the full MSc Charity Resource Management normally start in January.)
Course length: 8 days (4 days per module)
Fees: £1,750 (£875 per course). However, a scholarship scheme is available to support those from charities with limited resources – if awarded this reduces the total university fee to £1,050.
Tel: 0114 225 2820, email: Sheffield Hallam University or visit the Sheffield Hallam University website for more information.
University of the West of England
Charity Fundraising Management
This course provides a unique blend of academic research and the best of professional practice, covering each major form of fundraising and the role of the fundraiser. Participants are normally a mix of final year undergraduate students and fundraising professionals.
Course start date: October
Course length: 9 months (October to June) (20 weeks of 2 hour lectures)
Fees: £210
Fundraising Professional Practice – Professional Portfolio
This short course in conjunction with the successful completion of Charity Fundraising Management covers the full requirements of the CiFM. Delegates must have either completed the Charity Fundraising Management module or be registered to do so.
Course start date: End September
Course length: 8 months (Sep-May) (3 two hour workshops)
Fees: £175
Tel: 0117 344 82909, email: University of the West of England or Patricia Fry or visit the UWE website for more information.
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Pidgeon Sargeant Associates
This is a new academic approach to gaining the certificate. It has the advantage of participants being able to gain the certificate in a shorter time than other courses. It is taught in three intensive blocks of two days permitting 40 hours of tutor contact. The course is taught by Professor Adrian Sargeant and Stephen Pidgeon, two renowned fundraisers and experts in the field. The course is assessed through a combination of coursework and a final three hour written examination. This is a great opportunity for those who can not commit to the longer courses or other routes to certificate and is inclusive of all costs including your first year's full certificated membership of the Institute.
Places have now been filled for this course.
The course will take place in central London.
Course length: 6 days
Fees: £2,000. This INCLUDES certification, registration and your first year's full certificated membership of the Institute.
The Projects Company
Certificate in Fundraising Management - Supported Assessment
A flexible and supported route to both modules. This option is more suitable for fundraisers with experience and is available on a one-to-one basis. Candidates are supported by a licensed assessor in completing their portfolio.
Course start date: See website for course details.
Course length: 6 months - 2 years
Fees: from £795 plus VAT according to time required.
Tel: 0208 502 2327 email: The Projects Company or visit The Projects Company website.
Certificate in Fundraising Management – Supported Assessment for Fundraising Practice (Foundation module only)
A flexible and supported route to the Fundraising Practice module.This option is more suitable for fundraisers with experience and is available either as an add-on to those who undertake the Managing Fundraising programme or on a one-to-one basis. Candidates are supported by a licensed assessor in completing their Fundraising Practice portfolio.
Course start date: Monthly
Fees: Variable according to time required
Tel: 020 8502 2327 email: The Projects Company or visit their website
Managing Fundraising (Managing Fundraising Module only)
This five-day course examines how strategic planning for an organisation or project is developed to maximize on funding opportunities available. It also covers the strategic development of fundraising, and management of the fundraising function as well as the management of the voluntary and professional people involved in fundraising.
Course start date: Please check the website for up to date course information.
Course length: 5 days (over 3 months)
Fees: £1,100 - £1,150 plus VAT.
Tel: 020 8502 2327 or visit The Projects Company website
Fundraising Training Ltd
Fundraising Trainee Programme (leads to Module one of the IoF's Certificate of Management)
The Fundraising Trainee Programme is a six month programmes which looks at the generic skills for all forms of high value fundraising. The programme runs twice a year and has produced over 200 graduates altready. Completing this course will provide you with a fast-track route to becoming a successful fundraiser.
The key features of the course are:
- Six one day courses, held over a six month period
- Four work based assignments, designed to lead successful candidates to module one of the Institute's Certificate in Fundraising Management.
- A personal tutor - an experienced fundraiser, to provide guidance on how to apply the fundraising ideas;
- A CD containing over 400 pages of fundraising ideas, tools, case studies and information sources
- A network of other fundraisers who are making the same career journey, from the same starting point;
- Group work exercises which provide opportunities to gain an insight into the best practice of other charities.
- Access to Fundraising Training Ltd's network of over 200 graduates from the Fundraising Trainee Programme
Course cost: £1000 + VAT
Contact: visit the website or email info@fundraisingtraining.co.uk
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