CERTIFICATE COURSES

Multi-week courses for in-depth explorations of topics

Upcoming Corporate Giving Courses

Designed to boost the revenue your organization generates, driving growth and impact.

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Fundamentals of Corporate Giving for Nonprofits

Learn all aspects of corporate giving: philanthropy (grants, goods-in-kind), sponsorships, cause marketing, employee volunteering, and workplace giving along with the skills needed to be successful.

Enrollment for the Spring 2026 Cohort is now open. Classes start Wednesday May 20th, 2026 from 12 pm to 2 pm PT (3 pm to 5 pm ET)

Fall 2026 Enrollment

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Master the art of a corporate donor meeting

Learn the art of guiding meetings with corporate donors and sponsors to retain control, accomplish your objectives, and create a win-win outcome by closing the deal.

Enroll

Course Details

Fundamentals of Corporate Giving Course

Are you taking advantage of all the ways in which a company can support your nonprofit? This course will cover all aspects of corporate fundraising including:

Learn how to start a corporate giving program when none exists
Understand how your organization’s revenue can be increased through Corporate Philanthropy (gifts and grants) from companies and corporate foundations
Gain knowledge of how different securing Sponsorships are from donations
Be familiar with Cause Marketing, its nuances, and how to set up a program to receive a percentage of the income a company receives when it sells a specified product
Explore Employee Volunteerism including board service and the need to have ‘big business’ on the board
Know how to leverage Workplace Giving to help you achieve your corporate revenue goals
Discover how to find companies that are aligned with your mission and the person(s) who makes the decision on which nonprofits get funded
Learn the best ways to first approach the decision maker increasing your success of a reply to your email, phone call and/or first meeting at a networking session.
Understand methods of maintaining (stewarding) donors and sponsors

This course is offered virtually via Zoom Meeting giving you the ability to interact with the instructor(s) and other students. Class size is limited to maximize learning. Every student is entitled to one-on-one sessions with the instructor to discuss issues that are unique to their organization.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Offered three times a year starting in January, May, and September, this is an eight-week course. Each module is 2 hours long and is recorded in the event you have to miss a session. Class runs from 12 pm to 2 pm PT. There will be between class assignments.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is designed for fundraising professionals, board members, and executive directors, who want to grow their corporate donors and sponsors.

CERTIFICATION

You will earn 12 CFRE points upon successful completion and a CGN certificate.

CONTENT

Module 1: Corporate Giving Overview

Introduction to all aspects of corporate giving
Overview of the size, scope, and history of corporate giving
Evaluating your organization to be sure you are ready for corporate giving
Discussion of jargon and acronyms including CSR, ESG, Triple Bottom Line, Sustainability, Circular Economy and others.
Activity: Based on a 10-point Corporate Funder Vetting Checklist, evaluate if you are corporate giving ready.

Module 2: Corporate Philanthropy

Learn the best way to start a corporate giving program
Acquire a knowledge of funding sources from companies and corporate foundations that align with your mission.
Activity: Identify all resources for finding corporate philanthropy. Know your financial goal(s) for corporate giving needed for creating your Fundraising Plan.

Module 3: Sponsorships, underwriting and licensing

Understanding how sponsorships are different
Understanding what assets (benefits) corporate funders care about
Learn to create a sponsorship package and what information should you include
Activity: Create a list of your nonprofit’s assets. Complete a SWOT analysis

Module 4: Cause Marketing

Be clear on the many types of cause marketing programs
Learn how to find a company that is a good fit
Understand the legal requirements
Activity: Create a list of companies that would be a good fit for your organization

Module 5: Employee volunteerism

Learn how to develop volunteer opportunities
Build your board to include big business
Be aware of ERGs (Affinity Groups), how to find them and how to get them engaged
Activity: Create an event where you can involve ERGs

Module 6: Workplace giving & Company Matching

Understand the importance of capturing information on where your individual donors and event attendees work
Learn which resources are available to help determine if the individual donors’ employers will match their gift
Activity: Update all applications like Benevity, etc.

Module 7: Prospecting for leads

How to turn a ‘suspect’ into a prospect
Evaluate your prospects to determine if they will be good corporate alliances
Activity: Build a prospect list of potential grantors, sponsors and cause marketing partners

Module 8: Find and contacting the decision maker

Understand the importance of doing your homework before you approach a prospect
Learn where to find the decision makers contact information
What is the best way to first approach a prospect
Activity: Write sample emails to prospects

TUITION

Passholder: $700
Non-Passholder: $900

Interested in taking this course? Enrollment is now open for the Spring 2026 Cohort.

Questions? Contact Joy Stephens, joy@corporategn.com or 425.653.1575

Master the Art of the Corporate Funder Meeting

Master the Art of the Corporate Funder Meeting
The skills to prepare, connect, advance the relationship – and close the deal.

Do you feel anxious or uncomfortable when meeting with a corporate funder or sponsor whether face-to-face or virtually? This course is for you.

A corporate funder meeting is not a presentation where you talk 80% of the time. Quite the opposite. It’s a conversation that can determine whether a relationship moves forward because you have uncovered what’s important to the funder. This five-week, highly interactive course will give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prepare for and conduct productive meetings which means you’ve met your meeting objectives.

We’ll cover every stage of the meeting beginning with pre-meeting research to setting goals for the meeting to anticipating and then handling objections. Lastly, and most importantly is demonstrating the alignment between your organization’s work, and the company’s social impact priorities allowing you to ‘close the deal’.

The best way to get good at something is to practice, so role-playing is built into the course. You’ll have opportunities to practice real-world scenarios, receive feedback, and refine your approach in a supportive environment.

Class size is intentionally limited to maximize participation and learning. The course also includes one-on-one sessions with the instructor to focus on your specific challenges and opportunities.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Fundraising professionals responsible for corporate giving, sponsorships, and corporate partnerships, as well as executive directors and nonprofit board members who participate in corporate fundraising.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The class meets virtually on Wednesdays from 9–11 a.m. PT / 12–2 p.m. ET via Zoom for five consecutive weeks.

This is an interactive course, not a webinar. Cameras and microphones are on, participation is expected, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice what you’re learning.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Module 1: Prepare & Take Control of the Meeting

Recognize different social styles and understand why they matter.
Learn how to modify your social style to that of the funder
Know the key stages of a successful corporate funder meeting.
Build a profile of the company including key indices
Get to know the decision maker and create a contact profile.

Module 2: Ask Better Questions & Really Listen.

Sharpen your listening and note-taking skills.
Learn how to ask thoughtful, open-ended questions.
Uncover the funder’s priorities, objectives, and challenges.

Module 3: Connect Your Organization to Their Business

Move beyond simply presenting your nonprofit’s needs.
Identify what your organization has to offer a corporate partner.
Connect your organization’s strengths and opportunities to the company’s business and community priorities.

Module 4: Navigate Concerns & Overcome Objections

Recognize common objections and what they may really mean.
Learn how to respond without becoming defensive or losing momentum.
Turn difficult moments into opportunities to better understand the funder.

Module 5: Get the YES—and Know What to Do Next

Understand what to do when the funder says yes.
Identify and secure the next step when the answer isn’t yet a commitment.
Steward a new corporate relationship to create opportunities for future support.
Build the foundation for a long-term corporate partnership not just a one-time gift.

The Bottom Line

Success isn’t necessarily walking out of the meeting with a check. Success means achieving the objective you set for the meeting—whether that’s securing funding, getting a second meeting, learning more about the company, identifying the right decision-maker, or moving the relationship to the next step.

You’ll leave this course better prepared, more confident, and ready to make every corporate funder meeting count.

If you feel anxious and uncomfortable in face to face or virtual meetings with your corporate funder or sponsor, this course is for you. All aspects of the meeting with a corporate funder will be covered (see Content). As the best way to get good at something, is to practice, there will be roles plays throughout the five weeks. Class size is limited to maximize learning and one-on-one sessions with the instructor is included.

TUITION
Passholder: $575
General Admission: $675

Interested in taking this course? Enroll