Fundraising Fundamentals
The core skills every nonprofit needs to raise money with confidence.
For: Nonprofit fundraisers and development staff
What you’ll learn
- Map donors onto a giving pyramid and prioritize asks
- Write a clear, confident fundraising ask
- Build a simple annual fundraising plan
- Apply donor-centered, ethical fundraising practice (AFP Code)
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
What fundraising really is
5 min
- 2
The sources of giving
5 min
- 3
The donor pyramid
6 min
- 4
Annual fund, major gifts & planned giving
6 min
- 5
The case for support
5 min
- 6
Donor-centered fundraising & retention
5 min
- 7
Making the ask
5 min
- 8
Ethics: the AFP Code & Donor Bill of Rights
5 min
Sources & further reading
- Giving USA / Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — Giving USA 2025: U.S. charitable giving grew to $592.50 billion in 2024
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) — Fundraising Effectiveness Project — donor & retention benchmarks
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) — Code of Ethical Standards
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) — The Donor Bill of Rights
- Bloomerang — What's the Impact of Improving First-Time Donor Retention?
- Candid — Takeaways from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project data
This course is educational and provides general information about the Fair Credit Reporting Act and volunteer-screening best practices. It is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — consult a qualified attorney about your organization’s specific obligations.