Philanthropy is the engine keeping our nonprofit missions moving forward and exceptional fundraisers are often the most sought-after positions in the nonprofit world. Path to success and leadership requires both technical and relational fundraising skills.
Whether you’re already in a development role or want to build new development capabilities, SPN’s Skill Up Fundraising Series offers a shortcut to mastering the key competencies of fundraising. Designed with the Network’s needs in mind, these masterclass-style virtual classes cover essential fundraising topics, including how to efficiently and effectively research donors and prospects; how to reach out and capture the attention of prospective donors; and how to align your donor CRM with your development strategies. You will leave these interactive classes equipped with the practical tools you need to upgrade your development skills.
Upcoming Sessions
SPN Skill-Up Fundraising Series: Foundation Relations and Grant Writing – Part I
May 7, 2024
2:00-3:30 PM ET
According to Giving USA’s most recent Annual Report on Philanthropy from 2022, foundation giving represents 21.1% of all private charitable giving to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. This amounts to more than $105 billion in annual giving. Foundations exist to support nonprofit missions through charitable grants, and yet, they all operate differently with varying priorities, processes and staff. Join us for Part I of our series on Foundation Relations and Grant Writing to hear directly from foundation staff. You’ll leave with the understanding that no two foundations are the same, and yet, there are consistent ways you can position your organization for success when engaging foundations in your mission.
SPN Skill-Up Fundraising Series: Foundation Relations and Grant Writing – Part II
May 14, 2024
2:00-3:30 PM ET
So you’ve met with foundation staff and they’ve given you the green light to submit a grant proposal – now what? Join us for Part II of our series on Foundation Relations and Grant Writing to learn how to prepare a compelling grant proposal that will help put your organization’s proposal at the top of the foundation stack. You’ll leave with the realization that most of the hard work should happen before you even start writing your proposal, and all the tips and tricks to make sure your request is clear, concise and consistent. Plus, we’ll discuss what to do after you submit, and even more importantly, what to do after you hear back from the foundation.
Previous Sessions
Skill-Up: Donor Research
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET | June 27, 2023
Join us to better understand how to efficiently and effectively research donors and prospects. In this session, you’ll learn the tools worth investing in, where to find free resources, what to look for, how to store information, and how to leverage what you uncover to advance your development strategies.
Skill-Up: Donor Prospecting
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET | August 1, 2023
Taught by SPN’s prospecting outreach experts, Christina Pajak and Siobhan Lundt, this session covers how to reach out and capture the attention of prospective donors. Join us to discover the systems, processes, messages and skills needed to meaningfully engage a prospective donor.
Skill-Up: Development Systems and Processes
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET | October 17, 2023
Under the expert guidance of SPN’s development operations specialist, Victoria Bartolomeo, this session delves into the intricate operational challenges associated with nurturing a gift throughout its entire lifecycle and offers strategies for achieving success. We invite you to join us and access valuable insights, proven systems, and processes that can elevate your development operations to new levels of excellence. This session serves as an exceptional precursor to next year’s Skill Up sessions, making it an invaluable event to attend!
Who should attend?
The series is open to all staff at SPN member organizations. In particular, current development staff and leaders who are taking on additional development responsibilities are encouraged to register.