Winning resources and support
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| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
As non-profit organisations take on increasing responsibility for raising awareness of key issues and delivering vital services, fundraising and campaigning skills have never been more important. This course is the distance learning route to the Institute of Fundraising’s Certificate in Fundraising Management (see ‘Vocational relevance’ below for eligibility). If you are working towards a degree or looking to change career, it provides a thorough grounding in planning, implementing and evaluating fundraising activity in different contexts. It draws on concepts from marketing, psychology, information management and creative problem-solving, giving you the tools to fundraise effectively and ethically in an increasingly competitive international environment.
Course content
The course content is sequenced into three blocks: Fundraising Fundamentals, Fundraising Techniques and Fundraising Strategy. Each block consists of two specially written study texts designed to maximise your learning in the time you have available. Fundraising Fundamentals begins with Fundraising in Context, allowing you to start the course by diagnosing your own strengths and weaknesses in relation to your fundraising role. It sets the scene for the rest of the course by introducing the vital skill of planning in a highly practical way with a discussion of the ethical and cultural issues presented by fundraising and campaigning. The second text in the block, Communicating Your Case for Support, builds on this material by outlining the key skills of identifying and communicating a fundraising case.
The second block, Fundraising Techniques, is even more practically oriented. The first of the two study texts here, Resources From Individuals focuses on the psychology of individual donor and supporter motivation. Drawing on current research into what is still an imperfectly understood area of human behaviour, it offers evidence-based guidance on ways to initiate and nurture relationships with donors and supporters in contexts such as volunteering, participative fundraising events and soliciting major donations. The theme of partnership is developed further in Resources from Organisations, the second study text of the block. This complements the earlier text by highlighting techniques and issues encountered in working with statutory funders as well as organisations such as trusts, charitable foundations and businesses to mobilise resources for your good cause.
The final block, Fundraising Strategy, ties the themes of the course together by studying the job of fundraising and campaigning as part of a wider organisational process. The first study text here, Managing Resources Effectively, provides a toolkit for achieving fundraising results through wise management of the scarce resources of finance, information and people at your disposal. A considerable amount of the material is devoted to practical methods of evaluation to ensure the effective use of such resources, in line with the increasing emphasis on accountability that characterises fundraising and campaigning work. The second and final study text in the block, Planning and Strategy, revisits the theme of planning at a more sophisticated level, exploring the range of strategic options facing today’s fundraising and campaigning organisations.
The course has been designed to provide people working as paid or volunteer fundraisers with a distance-learning route to the Institute of Fundraising’s Certificate in Fundraising Management (CiFM). If you are considering gaining this certificate as a route into fundraising as a career, please note that some current experience of fundraising work, whether paid or voluntary, is necessary in order to set the highly practical assignments in context. Another factor to bear in mind is that course elements include not only the study texts described above but also online resources such as a website (featuring links to online materials, your tutor and fellow students) and involve considerable interactivity. The basic study texts are supplemented by a reader combining classic fundraising articles with specially commissioned new material. There are also optional tutorials, where you have the opportunity to work face-to-face with your tutor and the other students from your tutorial group. All the elements of the course are tied together by a specially written Study Guide, which contains a calendar to keep you on track in your studies, a glossary and related study aids.
You will learn
- key concepts and techniques relevant to fundraising and campaigning in domestic and international contexts
- thinking skills in evaluation, research, information handling and creativity
- key skills in problem solving, information technology, team working, communication, numeracy and personal effectiveness
- professional skills in ethical decision making; identifying and communicating a fundraising case; planning, allocating and organising resources; and managing productive working relationships with a range of partners.
Vocational relevance
Successfully completing B625 enables fundraisers who fulfil the membership criteria of the Institute of Fundraising to be accredited with the Institute’s Certificate in Fundraising Management (CiFM). The CiFM is awarded by the Institute, not by the OU Business School.
Individual membership at entry level (Associate member) is open to anyone working in fundraising. All applications for membership of the Institute must be supported by a reference. Further information regarding membership of the institute can be found on its website.
For more information about the detail of this process, and about the CiFM in general, contact the Professional Development Team at the Institute of Fundraising on 0207 840 1020.
Entry
While the course’s primary focus is on fundraising and assumes some current experience of fundraising work, either voluntary or paid, it offers valuable professional development to anyone whose work involves public relations or campaigning in the public and non-profit sector.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
In 2007 the CiFM was recognised as a leading European qualification by the European Fundraising Association, a group of professional associations from the member states of the European Union. However, it is likely that there will only be a relatively small number of students from mainland Europe on any one presentation of the course; therefore, the location of day schools and tutorials in mainland Europe will not be finalised until the number of students registered for the course is known. You should be aware that you may need to travel long distances (possibly to the UK) to attend tutorials.
Qualifications
B625 is an optional course in the
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Large print versions of the course materials can be provided on request. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet. If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Six course books, a Reader with commissioned and classic articles about fundraising, a Study Guide, electronic resources.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will join a regionally based group of students with a tutor with whom you can communicate by email, telephone and post. Your tutor will mark your assignments and provide online support and guidance. There will be opportunities to work together with students in your group at face-to-face tutorials and/or day schools that will be facilitated by your tutor. The precise pattern of delivery will depend on local conditions. While it is not compulsory to attend face-to-face sessions, you are warmly encouraged to do so. Access to your fellow students is a valuable learning experience in itself and you will find your performance in assessments is enhanced by attending tutorials. An essential component of the course will be working online to collaborate with other students, in your own tutor group and more widely. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
The assignments are returned to you in the same way, meaning that you receive speedy and secure feedback on your learning. All assignments are designed to help you learn and apply concepts and models from the course to your own work practice.
The end-of-course examination will give you an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills you have developed and consolidated during the course.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course can lead to the award by the Institute of Fundraising of the CiFM, subject to status. Please note that there is a fee payable to the Institute for both membership of the Institute and accreditation with the certificate.
It is important to remember that the CiFM is awarded by the Institute of Fundraising and not by the OU. You must satisfy membership criteria which would include professional or voluntary fundraising experience.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2009. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
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An undergraduate course in Business and Management.
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