Fundraising Concentration Becomes Certificate Program

A proposal to create a Fundraising Leadership Certificate program was approved by the undergraduate curriculum committee at Rockhurst. This means that students who take the fundraising concentration courses will now receive an actual certificate, granted by Rockhurst University, and they are eligible for financial aid as certificate-seeking students.

The certificate requirements mirror the concentration requirements, and students from any major (not just nonprofit leadership) and/or from the community may earn this certificate.

Our banner ads on selected websites in the nonprofit community have led to inquiries from prospective students, so we are gaining visibility!

As a recap, required courses for the Fundraising Leadership Certificate and/or the Fundraising Concentration within the Nonprofit Leadership Studies major total 18 credit hours and include:

NP 1110 – Intro to NPOs
NP 3050 – Foundations of Fundraising & Development
FD 4000 – Developing Annual Sustainability
FD 4100 – Major Gifts & Capital Campaigns
FD 4200 – Technology & Marketing Trends in Fundraising
FD 4300 – Prospect Research & Proposal Writing

On a related note, the committee also approved the creation of a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate program utilizing our existing NP/American Humanics courses. Because the University will award this certificate, students who pursue this program also will be eligible for financial aid.

Thank you for all your hard work!
Jenny

AFP's Diane Marty Named Rockhurst Adjunct of the Year

Diane's energy and passion for fundraising is being recognized by Rockhurst. She's the first adjunct to receive this prestigious award! Find out more about her work and the award here.

…And we’re off!

Greetings! I’m Jenny Rinella, Director of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies and American Humanics program at Rockhurst, where the AFP Teaches Fundraising Concentration is housed. Fall classes have begun and are kicking into high gear, as we welcome 30 students to the new fundraising concentration! I am thrilled about our new faculty, courses, and the quality of teaching and learning in this collaborative program.

Just a few tidbits since we announced the program start:

• Our very own Diane Marty, co-chair of the AFPTeaches curriculum development committee, was selected as the Rockhurst Graduate and Professional Studies Adjunct Faculty of the Year for 2009-10! The GPS Dean, Dr. Jeffrey Breese, presented this award to Diane at the all-faculty assembly last week.

• I recently enjoyed an opportunity to present our progress at the National American Humanics Professional Development Meeting, in successful conclusion of the 2009-10 Cohen Research Grant project, “Raising the Bar on Fundraising Education”

• Rockhurst has been invited to present on the RU/AFP partnership at the 2011 Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools conference in Milwaukee, “Creating Strategic Partnerships and Alliances to Advance Graduate Education”

I look forward to sharing more good news with you as the academic year progresses.

More Buzz as the School Year Approaches

Catch up with the latest on the AFP Mid-America Chapter and Rockhurst University's partnership: the offering of a new fundraising concentration within the Nonprofit Leadership Studies major. Did you know Kansas City is home to 7,500 registered nonprofit organizations that generate more than $9.5 billion and employ about 10 percent of our city's workforce? Read more here.

AFPTeaches in YIP E-Newsletter

Mid-America Chapter's Youth in Philanthropy chairman, Karma Vowell discusses how AFPTeaches will bridge the gap between fundraising professionals and students. Exciting coverage of our flagship effort! Read the interview here. Thanks, Karma!

Interested in making $$$ for your AFP Chapter??

So last you saw this blog, you heard from Merritt Engle, our first faculty hire for AFPTeaches. Since then, the full slate has been established and they are:

Fall Semester:

• Foundations of Fundraising & Develompent - Diane Marty, CFRE, United Way of Greater Kansas City
• Annual Sustainability - Stuart Hoffman, CFRE, Goodwill Industries of Kansas City
• Major Gifts & Capital Campaigns - Steve Byers, CFRE, Steven J. Byers Consulting

Spring Semester:

• Foundations of Fundraising & Development - Beth Dollase, CFRE, Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences
• Technology & Marketing Trends in Fundraising - Merritt Engel, Merrigan & Company
• Prospect Research & Propsoal Writing - David Hanzlick, CFRE, Omnipro Consulting

And here's the other REALLY COOL part about this new initiative for our Chapter: because we've hired 6 instructors (by sharing the teaching of the foundation class by semester) AND because our committee agreed to devote the entire grant stipend for curriculum develompent back to AFP Mid America Chapter, this endeavor has already NETTED $3100 for our Chapter!

Not bad, eh? Feel free to get in touch if you'd like to explore this as a win-win option for your own Chapter...

Well Hello There!

Greetings! I’m Merritt Engel, one of the newly selected instructors for this program—Marketing and Technology in the Spring 2011.

I’m thrilled … and not just because Rockhurst is my alma mater.

I’ve taught at Rockhurst before (Communications and Journalism), but this class has special meaning because of what I do by day. I’m Vice President of Merrigan & Co., a marketing firm specializing in communications for non-profits. I develop campaigns and write copy for all media, so I get a chance to see what’s working (and what’s not) for organizations large and small. I’m also fortunate to have a curriculum development committee that is bursting with energy and ideas. Work is already underway.

I hope to bring the most current thinking and best practices to the classroom … along with an all-star lineup of guest speakers (from front line fundraisers to leading direct marketers to dynamo social media mavens).

Most of all, I’m excited to inspire and prepare future non-profit professionals for successful careers. As someone who hires from this pool and works in this world, I know there are great opportunities out there … and great futures for the students who choose them.