"The Fundamentals of Fundraising," a Penn State Continuing Education certificate program for nonprofit administrators, working fundraising professionals, volunteers with fundraising responsibility or anyone who wants to learn more about the development profession, will be offered this fall at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, in cooperation with the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Classes will meet at Penn State Behrend from 5:30 until 8 p.m. on Mondays from Sept. 14 through Nov. 30. The course also will be available via videoconference at the Penn State Shenango and Penn State DuBois campuses.
Fundraising recently was included in the Best Careers 2009 list in U.S. News & World Report; the profession received an "A" grade in all criteria, including job market outlook, job satisfaction, and prestige.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals represents more than 30,000 members in 200 chapters throughout the world. It works to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research and education, to foster development and growth of fundraising professionals and to promote high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.
"The Fundamentals of Fundraising" can be used to satisfy a portion of the application requirement for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) professional designation, as well as to earn Penn State Continuing Education Units.
The cost of the course is $650, or $550 for AFP members; financial aid and scholarships are available to qualified students. To register or receive updated information on the program, contact Michelle Hartmann, Penn State Behrend Continuing Education area representative, at (814) 898-7584 or e-mail maw179@psu.edu.