Individual Fundraising

This free online course is designed for civil society organisations seeking to strengthen their resource mobilisation strategies by developing effective approaches to fundraising from individuals.

The course explores a wide range of individual fundraising methods, including online fundraising, direct donor engagement, sponsorships, major donor cultivation, fundraising events, and the use of goods and services to generate income. It also examines the role of non-cash contributions such as volunteering, pro bono services, and in-kind donations in supporting organisational sustainability. Participants will gain practical insights into how to design, implement, and sustain individual fundraising strategies that align with organisational mission and community engagement goals. The course duration is 2.5 hours.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

LO1 Explain the purpose and importance of individual fundraising within civil society organisations

LO2 Describe the motivations and behaviours of individual donors and supporter networks

LO3 Identify a range of individual fundraising methods, including online fundraising, events, sponsorships, and direct appeals

LO4 Explain how fundraising campaigns are planned, structured, and implemented effectively

LO5 Describe tools and platforms used to support online fundraising and donor engagement

LO6 Explain the role of sponsorships, major donors, and personalised donor engagement strategies in fundraising

LO7 Describe how non-cash contributions, including volunteering and in-kind support, contribute to organisational sustainability

LO8 Explain how public engagement and communication strategies support trust, credibility, and long-term fundraising success

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Design and implement individual fundraising strategies aligned with organisational goals
• Identify and segment individual donors and supporter groups for targeted engagement
• Develop and manage fundraising campaigns using both online and offline approaches
• Use digital tools and platforms to support donor acquisition, engagement, and retention
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, and high-value supporters
• Plan and deliver fundraising events and income-generating activities
• Integrate non-cash contributions such as volunteering and in-kind support into resource mobilisation strategies
• Communicate effectively with the public to build trust, credibility, and sustained engagement with supporters

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License. To view a copy of this license, go here.