Overview
A fundraiser undertakes the essential work of securing the resources (especially, but not only, money) required for both front-line activities and overheads, enabling good causes to fulfil their missions.
The Level 3 Fundraiser Apprenticeship programme provides new and early career fundraisers with the skills, behaviours, and knowledge to identify, build and maintain relationships to raise financial (such as funds) and non-financial support (such as volunteering) for their charitable cause.
Benefits of the programme
- Skills Development: The Level 3 Fundraiser Apprenticeship provides early career fundraisers with the skills to build and maintain relationships, raising financial and non-financial support for charitable causes.
- Understanding Fundraising: Learn about essential income sources: reach and build relationships with Donors. Gain confidence in analysis, regulation, data management, finance and budgeting.
- Academic Support: The programme is designed and delivered by academics with a professional fundraising background. It includes insights from leading consultants, fundraisers, and strategic philanthropists.
Gain the skills needed to be a successful fundraiser
Our programme ensures that fundraisers have a thorough understanding of the different sources of income, including major gifts, legacies, events, corporate partners, trusts and foundations, community and individual giving.
You will learn how to contribute towards the implementation and execution of fundraising strategies, projects and plans. You will feel confident in areas such as:
- Conducting internal and external analysis and research
- Data management
- Stewardship
- Finance
- Communicating with stakeholders
- Fundraising legislation
- Building relationships
Learn in a supportive environment
You will join a leading academic institution which provides a supportive study and work environment. The programme is designed and delivered by academics who are experts in the charity sector and who specialise in a range of relevant disciplines, including major giving, grants, community and legacies.
You will benefit from their wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as hearing from experts from beyond the University, including teaching contributions from leading consultants, fundraisers and strategic philanthropists.
Teaching and Assessment
How you will learn
The programme will be delivered through various teaching methods to provide apprentices with a diverse learning experience, including:
- Weekly live online seminars
- Independent learning exercises and work-based activities
- E-learning resources and additional reading
- Peer-to-peer learning
- Shadowing
- Monthly progress reviews and regular check-ins
- Webinars and research tasks
- Interactive learning
Combine our study with practical experience
A 2-day face-to-face induction at the University of Chichester campus will kick off the programme, with another 2-day event later on.
Apprentices will access the University of Chichester’s online Moodle portal and gain practical experience through their work placement, including a minimum of 20% off-the-job training. This hands-on experience is vital for developing problem-solving, strategic thinking, and interpersonal skills.
During the on-programme phase, apprentices will prepare a portfolio of evidence, with its format and structure agreed upon by the employer and apprentice and presented electronically.
Assessments
Apprentices must complete and End-Point Assessment for the Fundraiser Apprenticeship Standard after a minimum of 13 months on-programme. The EPA is scheduled once the employer confirms the apprenticeship meets the occupational standard and gateway requirements.
The EPA, typically completed within two months, includes:
- Case for support pitch, presentation with Q&A.
- Professional discussion supported by a portfolio of evidence.
Performance in the EPA determines the final grade: Fail, Pass, or Distinction. Successful completion results in the Level 3 Fundraiser Apprenticeship Certificate.
The Course
What you will study
Course Duration
The Fundraising Apprenticeship will be studied over 12 months full-time (for those working 30+ hours a week) and will be taught over three academic terms. The End-Point Assessment typically lasts for two months after the 10 month on-programme working is complete.
Module 1: Foundations of Fundraising
- The course covers individual roles, expectations, activities, and assessment methods.
- An overview of fundraising and the sector, including the different types of fundraising, the importance of stakeholders and building networks, and the ethical considerations and regulations that affect fundraising.
- An understanding of the importance of relationships, including different types of motivation, and the different forms of fundraising.
- An understanding of how to develop and manage relationships, the importance of recording data (adhering to GDPR) and what analysis techniques can help you to gather insight.
Module 2: Key Fundraising Concepts and Principles
- An understanding of the components of a case for support to showcase the impact of the organisation’s work.
- An overview of the different communication methods for internal and external stakeholders. An understanding of effective supporter care and stewardship and the importance of accurately recording supporter information.
- An understanding of the key financial principles, such as budgeting and forecasting.
Module 3: Philanthropic Fundraising in Practice
- Develop problem solving skills by understanding how to manage conflict, find solutions and evaluate decisions, adapting the working style where necessary.
- An understanding of the external and market factors and explore methodologies to undertake internal and external analysis.
- Exploration of the key components of a fundraising plan.
- Course conclusions and assessment preparation.
The modules listed above are indicative and subject to change.
Meet your programme coordinator
Donna Day Lafferty
Donna Day Lafferty has worked as a professional fundraiser and project manager since 1997. She’s the founder of the world’s first undergraduate degree dedicated to non-profit fundraising, Charity Development.
Facilities
Use university resources, facilities and study spaces
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Course Costs
Your tuition fees will be paid by your employer and/or the Government so you will graduate without tuition fee debt.
As an employee, you will receive your salary from your employer and be eligible for employee benefits while you study. You will not be eligible for a student loan.
To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.
Entry Requirements
Apprentices are recruited directly by employers or are already employed by the company.
- Apprentices aged 16-18 at the start of the apprenticeship and without Level 2 English and Maths must achieve this before the End-Point Assessment.
- Apprentices aged 19+ at the start of the apprenticeship and without Level 2 English and Maths do not have to achieve this before End Point Assessment.
- For those with an education, health, and care plan or a legacy statement, the minimum requirement is Entry Level 3.
- A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification can replace the English qualification for BSL users.
