Undergraduate

Winning resources and support

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Professional recognition
• Students also studied
• Future availability

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 facts

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

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

Students who have successfully completed Winning resources and support are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Fundraising Management from the Institute of Fundraising (IoF), subject to membership of the Institute, the payment of an accreditation fee and completion of a CPD log. Those without sufficient practical experience to complete a CPD log are eligible to apply for the Certificate.

For further information on membership of the IoF, please contact the Institute on 020 7840 1020 (or via email).

To find out more about the IoF professional qualifications please check the IoF website.

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.

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.

Study 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 2005 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:

• Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities (B322)
• Marketing and society (B324)
• An introduction to business studies (B120)
• Business organisations and their environments (B201)
• Business functions in context (B203)

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Study explained

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

Course satisfaction survey

See the satisfaction survey results for this course.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35

Employers' questions

Contact Corporate Enquiries
Visit our website for employers or Email us

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