Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development

Graphic of a tree

"The Inasmuch Foundation Directors and Advisory Committee are very enthusiastic about making this grant to the School of Public Affairs at UCCS. We have great confidence in the high quality of this certificate and realize firsthand the importance of high quality, continuous fund development efforts in the nonprofit sector. This is particularly true in difficult economic times and in an ever more competitive marketplace. Highly qualified staff members with solid credentials are the very basis of successful fundraising and ongoing development of key relationships. These individuals will be the focus of this exciting new certificate program at the School of Public Affairs at UCCS."

Barbara Yalich
Inasmuch Foundation Advisory Committee Member

  Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development Brochure

The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development is designed to provide present and future fund development professionals with the knowledge and skills for successful fundraising in the nonprofit sector. The certificate covers six major knowledge areas: current and prospective donor research, relationship building, securing the gift, volunteer involvement, grant writing and management and accountability. Students will receive professional, academic education in fund development theory and practice to support capacity building and sustainability of the sector.


A Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development consists of four required classes. For descriptions of courses see UCCS Academic Catalog

Required courses include:
P AD 5110 Seminar in Nonprofit Management
P AD 5150 Understanding and Achieving Funding Diversity

Plus two of the following courses:
P AD 5140 Nonprofit Financial Management
P AD 5180 Social Entrepreneurship
P AD 6115 Grant Writing

Courses may be offered in the classroom or online. Students are not required to apply to a degree program to take these courses, but must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Students must earn grades of B- or better in each course counted toward a certificate. Current Master of Public Administration (MPA) students may take these courses and earn the certificate in addition to the MPA as part of their degree plan. Students who complete the certificate only may apply these courses to the MPA degree if admitted within three years of taking the certificate courses.

These courses also may be used as electives toward the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at UCCS School of Public Affairs.

To enroll in the certificate program, all students must:
•submit a one-page certificate application and official transcripts to the School of Public Affairs

 Students not currently admitted to the MPA or MCJ degree program must also:
•submit a brief application and a $25 processing fee to the UCCS admissions office to be admitted as a nondegree student 
•submit official transcripts to the School of Public Affairs

 

Gainful Employment Disclosures:
The U.S. Department of Education requires us to provide the following information about each of our certificates.

Program Costs:
The total investment in the Graduate Certificate program will vary depending on a student's residency status (Colorado resident vs. non-resident) and delivery mode (on campus vs. online). Tuition and fees for the Graduate Certificate program are the same as listed here.

In general the total tuition and fees for a four (4) course certificate will be between $6898 and $12,592. Textbooks required for the certificate program typically cost between $100-$150 per course or $400-$600 for the program.

Related Occupations:
Related occupations for each certificate are listed below. Click the links below to view occupational profiles.

Management:
Public Relations and Fundraising Managers   

On-Time Completion & Median Loan Debt:

As these are newly-approved programs the on-time completion rates and median student loan debt of program graduates are not yet available.