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Master’s Concentration

Philanthropy, Fundraising, and Resource Development

Changes in philanthropy, resource development, and fundraising are shaping the giving environment that influences how nonprofit and/or nongovernmental organizations plan their funding strategies. From crowdsourcing campaigns to capital fundraising and legacy giving, nonprofits must cultivate and retain donors from diverse contexts, devise new fundraising strategies, and demonstrate impact. Learn to navigate these changing trends through the master’s degree concentration in Philanthropy and Resource Development. You’ll increase impact and your nonprofit’s mission through diverse fundraising approaches.

This program follows the graduate guidelines of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC).

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Top-ranked, career-focused education in a flexible format.

At a Glance

Classes Begin
January 6

Term Length
10 Weeks

Master's Tuition
$835 per credit hour

Format
Online

Admission
No GRE or GMAT

Duration
As few as 18 months

Top-Ranked University

U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Brian Cicero

Talk to an Enrollment Manager

Skills You’ll Learn

Assess development approaches while considering scale and mission

Demonstrate financial literacy and employ structured fundraising tools and techniques

Demonstrate cultural competence and understanding of how fundraising strategies may work across diverse global contexts

Curriculum

Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership with a concentration in Philanthropy and Resource Development requires completion of 48 credit hours (12 courses).

5

Core Courses

4

Concentration
Courses

3

Elective Courses

Core Courses

Learn the scope of activity, historical development, and future direction of the industry. These courses provide a foundation that you'll draw on throughout your concentration and elective courses. The capstone serves as the culminating academic experience in which you'll explore a problem of practice in your field of study.

NFP 4010 Leading Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organizations
NFP 4015 Healthy Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organizations
NFP 4020 Legacy and Trends of Nonprofit Organizations and Civil Society
NFP 4905 Graduate Social Research Methods
NFP 4901 Capstone Project
OR  
NFP 4920 Portfolio Capstone
Concentration Courses

Focus on a specific professional area within the larger industry sector and master the skills needed to excel in that area.

NFP 4105 Applied Fundraising and Donor Relations
NFP 4110 Advanced Fundraising Strategies and Planned Giving
NFP 4115 Leading Nonprofit Financial Health
NFP 4120 Technology Strategy for Fundraising
Elective Courses

Popular electives for students in the Nonprofit Leadership program include:

NFP 4120 Technology Strategy for Fundraising
MALS 4200 Grant Writing
MALS 4281 Event Planning
COMM 4318 Mobile Marketing
COMM 4320 Social Media Strategy
COMM 4323 Email Marketing

Elective courses may be chosen from among non-core and concentration courses in the academic program, and you may also select courses in other University College graduate programs. Your academic advisor will help you select electives that align with your career and personal goals.

Featured Instructors

Sample Schedule

Plan out your schedule and determine your preferred timeline for completing your master's degree—finish in as few as 18 months or take up to five years.

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Interested in a graduate certificate?

Explore our four and six course graduate certificates in Philanthropy and Resource Development.

Take a Course Before You Apply

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We know how important it is to get started when you’re ready and that’s why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.

Career Outcomes

Predicted outcomes for graduates of Philanthropy and Resource Development

A report done by the Philanthropy Outlook projects charity giving will grow 3.8% over the next year. This increase of funds will help community service agencies to create new positions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of fundraisers is expected to grow 16% through 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Technological innovations such as social media have expanded the donor-nonprofit relationship which provides opportunities and challenges for nonprofits.


 

 

 

 

Job Titles

 
 

Development Officer
Director of Development
Fundraiser

Program Manager
Public Relations Managers
Development Events Manager

 

 

 

 

Fundraiser Salary Salary: National Average

$55,640

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Get Ahead with Career Services

 

One-on-one career coaching and mock interviews

 

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Résumé and cover letter guidance

Hear from Our Students

Theme: Job Satisfaction

Nonprofit Fundraising During Tumultuous Times

These times are tumultuous, yet nonprofit organizations still need to move forward to make the world a better place. How are we navigating our organizations and fundraising programs through this time of uncertainty? Let’s come together and discuss how we all can survive and even thrive in these times. In this session, seasoned nonprofit professionals who are Nonprofit Leadership faculty, will address the challenges of creating a fundraising strategy in the age of COVID-19 and practical tips to make your fundraising program work in times of crisis.

Flexible Online Classes

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We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.

Online Experience5

Accreditation


Higher Learning Commission

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.


Nonprofit Academic Centers Council
The Nonprofit Leadership program at DU's University College is a proud member of several leading nonprofit associations, including the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC).
 

 

 


Colorado Nonprofit Association
The University of Denver's Nonprofit Leadership program through University College is proud to be a sponsor of the Colorado Nonprofit Association, a valued community partnership for more than a decade.

Take the Next Step

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