The course begins with a 3-day intensive at Harvard University exploring the fundamentals of Exponential Fundraising, a collaborative, partnershipbased approach to fundraising and philanthropy. The course is highly experiential and interactive and features nonprofit leaders and philanthropists as guest speakers. At the conclusion of the 3-day intensive, participants will be given a customized "road map" that outlines a one-year plan to be implemented at their organization. For the duration of that year, one-on-one and group coaching consultations and updates will be provided, including an additional in-person, day-long meeting.

Data on the progress of the group will be collected throughout the year with reporting made available for use as a management tool. Participants will receive tailored strategies and support to set the conditions to serve their organization’s mission and achieve higher fundraising goals. Simply put, those who participate in the course will be equipped to run more effective and sustainable organizations.

Fundraising through a new lens: Exponential Fundraising

Too often, fundraising is seen strictly as a way of raising money. It is transactional and based on a consumer model designed around a buyer (the donor) and a seller (the organization). As a result, relationships are money-centered and asymmetrical, built on expectations, needs and external circumstances, not on mutual accountability, collaboration and internal growth. The buyer/seller dynamic leaves philanthropists feeling controlled and discouraged by the lack of genuine partnership and organizations feeling over-dependent and frustrated by perceived donor meddling.

Exponential Fundraising reconceptualizes fundraising as something that is not only mission critical, but a vehicle to fundamentally transform organizations and the people who are involved with them. Partnerships are designed from the start to be co-creative and generative – and strategy is built on a growing and continuous resource flow that is designed to break down walls, not create them.

This course offers a new way to approach fundraising that is transformational for leaders, their partners and their organizations.

Format

3-day intensive followed by three formal check-in periods over the course of the year.

The next intensive is June 4-7, 2013 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A welcome dinner is held the evening of June 4 and classes begin June 5.

The curriculum has been developed by a team of nonprofit leaders and is built around a case study approach that includes real-life experiential learning. The cohort is determined via a competitive admissions process consisting of:

• Completed application
• Written support of the organization’s Board Chair
• Phone interview for all final candidates with course director, Jennifer McCrea