Introducing Fundraising Foundations
Professional Learning Cohort for New & Aspiring Development Professionals in Education
Fundraising Foundations is an immersive professional development program designed for education-focused organizations looking to grow their own fundraising capacity. Over the course of 8 months, participants gain core fundraising knowledge and skills, personalized coaching, and peer support to confidently take on development leadership.
Participant Profile
This program is designed for charter schools, independent schools, and education nonprofits that are looking to grow internal development staff. The ideal participant profiles are:
Non-fundraisers who have recently taken on development responsibilities
Program or operations staff transitioning into fundraising roles
High-potential team members with strong people skills and an interest in development work
Programming & Support
The Fundraising Foundations cohort will kick off in November 2025 and complete in June 2026. Over the course of the year, participants will engage in monthly workshops and coaching, led by experienced education fundraisers. Programming includes:
➤ Professional Development Workshops
8 workshops covering the fundamentals of development (60 minutes each, monthly), including:
Introduction to the Donor Cycle & Fundraising Philosophy: overview of the donor cycle and donor-centered mindset
Pipeline Building & Moves Management: finding, segmenting, and planning donor engagement
Optimizing Donor Data & Fundraising Systems: managing donor information and keeping relationships organized
One-on-One Engagement: personal cultivation strategies and making the case for support
Marketing, Events, & Touchpoints: using events and experiences to engage donors
Soliciting Major Gifts & Corporate Partners: confidently making the ask with high-value donors
Soliciting Grants & Institutional Funding: researching and writing successful grant proposals
Donor Stewardship, Retention, & Activation: building long-term relationships and preparing for renewals
➤ 1:1 Coaching Sessions
8 personalized sessions with an expert fundraiser (60 minutes each, monthly), focused on:
Contextualizing recent workshops & answering questions
Real-time donor strategy review
Feedback on materials (e.g. appeals, pitch decks)
Role-playing solicitation conversations
Clarifying development career paths & personal goals
➤ Peer Consultancy Circles
3 optional peer learning sessions (90 minutes each, quarterly) that:
Use a protocol to surface and solve real challenges
Build peer networks across the sector
Deepen learning through reflection and discussion
Our Faculty
Our team of expert coaches, facilitators, and community moderators will guide participants through this experience. With resumes collectively boasting nearly $1 billion raised and more than 150 years of fundraising experience, our faculty members include:
Pricing
The complete Fundraising Foundations package includes 8 professional development workshops, 8 one-on-one coaching sessions, 3 peer consultancy circles, and access to our network of faculty for ongoing fundraising support.
Early Registration Rate:
$4,000 per participant if registered by Oct 15, 2025
Standard Rate:
$4,500 per participant if registered after Oct 15, 2025
Questions or need more information before registering? Email us!
