Course Syllabus
Welcome to L A 402: Fundraising Leadership: Building a Strong Base
Course Overview
Description
Successful development officers require a deep understanding of the skills and best practices that comprise the fundraising profession, exceptional leadership skills, and an abiding belief in and commitment to the cause for which they seek support.
A development officer must be a well-versed fundraiser equipped to build a solid and durable base of financial support for an organization, a base composed of and defined by people willing to commit their time, talent and treasure.
The goal of this course is to ensure that students are well-educated regarding fundraising and are knowledgeable, pervasive leaders no matter what level their position.
Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
Assessment and Knowledge/Skill Advancement
- Assess each class member’s knowledge and skill set regarding fundraising and leadership
- Provide learning experiences that enable each participant to move from their current level to higher levels of knowledge and skill regarding fundraising and leadership
Fundraising
- Exhibit understanding of various types of philanthropists – individuals, corporations, foundations – and be cognizant of similarities and differences characterizing these donors
- Be able to describe, differentiate, and link different levels of philanthropy and forms of fundraising used to solicit gifts at each level
- Be able to explain and document what determines the effectiveness of specific forms of fundraising communications
- Be able to articulate the ways in which fundraising leaders employ strategic communication and messaging to encourage new and increased levels of philanthropy
- Using examples, devise and explain what constitutes successful stewardship
- Be able to articulate how, why, and when fundraising leaders can employ not just good, but innovative stewardship to enhance fundraising ROI for the benefit of the nonprofits they serve
Fundraising Leadership
- Develop an understanding of the perspectives of philanthropists and the role that strategic fundraising leadership plays in encouraging new and increased philanthropy
- Be able to describe and differentiate among different levels of leadership
- Citing specific examples and characteristics, articulate the skills and characteristics possessed by high-performing fundraising leaders
- Using examples, clearly articulate the difference between fundraising leadership and management
Organization
This course is made up of 14 lessons.
For each lesson, you will complete the following activities and assignments:
- Explore online course content.
- Read a few assigned readings.
- Complete online exercises which will include a mixture of commentary, discussion, and group work
In addition, you will complete one final project. The grade breakdown for these assignments is provided in the Assignments section of this syllabus.
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Program
Full participation in the Penn State Certificate in Philanthropic Leadership is applicable for 135 points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification. For more information, please contact your instructor, or visit the CFRE Program webpage.
Online Learning and Attendance
This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.
Texts and Other Materials
There is one required text.
- Marcus Buckingham, StandOut: The Groundbreaking New Strengths Assessment from the Leader of the Strengths Revolution. Published by Thomas Nelson. (ISBN: 978-0849948886)
- You will read from this book, but a one-time-use key included with it is also required to take an online assessment that is part of the course.
- Any edition or version (hard copy, Kindle, etc.) is acceptable, as long as it comes with the key.
- You are strongly encouraged to purchase a new copy. If this book is bought used, it probably will not have a key. Keys are available for purchase online.
Library Services
Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.
Course Reserves
There are electronic resources on reserve for this course that can be accessed through the Penn State Libraries. To access your Course Reserves, please use the Library Resources tab in the course navigation menu. For any questions you may have about viewing or printing your Course Reserves, refer to the View and Print Electronic Course Reserves page at https://libraries.psu.edu/services/course-reserves/using-electronic-reserves/view-and-print-electronic-course-reserves.
Grading
Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.
Scale
| LETTER GRADE |
MINIMUM PERCENT |
|---|---|
| A | 93 |
| A- | 90 |
| B+ | 87 |
| B | 83 |
| B- | 80 |
| C+ | 75 |
| C | 70 |
| D | 60 |
| F | 0 |
Due Dates
Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (EST) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit them accordingly. If you are outside of the EST time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Student-Guide/How-do-I-set-a-time-zone-in-my-user-account-as-a-student/ta-p/414 at .
Due dates are indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments, unless due to an emergency, please contact the instructor prior to the assignment due date to request an excused absence. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (e.g. hospitalization, jury duty, family emergency, or military service) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g. upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Notes
- To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.
Assignments
Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.
| ASSIGNMENT GROUP |
WEIGHT |
|---|---|
| Discussion/Participation | 20% |
| Writing/Case Work | 40% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Outline | 10% |
| Final Project | 20% |
| Extra Credit | 5% |
| Total | 105% |
Discussion/Participation (20% total)
There are numerous discussion forums where you will be asked to post your responses or opinions. These discussions will be based on questions or prompts revolving around the curriculum. Discussions will not be grouped, these interactions will include every classmate in the course roster.
Writing/Case Work (40% total)
The writing assignments in this course will be similar to the Participation assignments except you will submit to a dropbox instead of engage in conversation with your classmates. Other work includes written responses to a hypothetical fundraising scenario or creation of content in regards to fundraising, such as a video or infographic.
Quizzes (10% total)
There are a handful of quizzes in this course, each consisting of a few essay questions which ask you to reflect on the concepts of that lesson.
Outline (10%)
Halfway through the semester, you will submit a short outline for the Final Project.
Final Project (20% total)
At the end of the semester, you will complete a Final Project; choosing a real-world scenario related to philanthropy and describing how you would pursue it.
Extra Credit (5%)
Throughout the semester, you have two opportunities to earn extra credit towards your final course grade by reading an article on fundraising leadership and writing a critique of it.
University Policies
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes (see G-9: Academic Integrity).
Unless your instructor tells you otherwise:
- Always include an in-text citation that includes the author(s) last name(s) and the year the source was published at the end of any sentence or below any image that includes words, images, or ideas you found in a source, always include quoted text within quotation marks, and always include a reference for any source at the end of your paper (ask your instructor about the format you should use).
- All of your graded coursework must be created by you without help from anyone in the course or otherwise. If you have questions about this, you should ask your instructor before submitting work for evaluation.
- All course materials you receive or access are protected by copyright laws. You may use course materials and make copies for your own use, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
Disability Access
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/disability-coordinator. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation described at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.
Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/. Students enrolled at the World Campus are also encouraged to visit its Mental Health Services page at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/mental-health-services.
Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.
Reporting a Bias Incident
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage at http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/.
Nondiscrimination
Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office Website at http://www.psu.edu/dept/aaoffice/.
TEACH Act
The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.
University Emergency Procedure
In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.
In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at http://www.psu.edu or Penn State News at http://news.psu.edu.
To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to https://psualert.psu.edu/. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.
Syllabus Subject to Change
The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|