Continually learning is important for most jobs and fundraising is no exception.  Personally I love going to conferences, seminars and even taking online classes.  (In fact this weekend I’m missing a really great internet conference.)

Sometimes seminars just give you general information that might be helpful “someday,” while other times you are looking for something specific that you can put into practice right away.  For your end of year fundraising to be truly successful this year, why not get an edge by taking a class related to what your major fundraising focus is this year?

Here are some of the training opportunities available from various service providers, listed here as a service to Step by Step Fundraising readers.  Just click the links provided for more information.  Happy learning!

Teleseminars & Webinars

Learn from the comfort of your home or office!  These are listed in chronological order.

6 Steps to Sponsorship Success: What Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know
Date & Time: October 15, 3:30 PM EST
Speaker: Gail Bower
Cost: $60 Non-member/$50 State association member
Offered by: The National Council of Nonprofits

Many organizations are seeking ways to supplement funding sources that have pulled back in the past year. What is your organization doing to rejuvenate its relationships with potential corporate funders? Corporate sponsorship, done creatively, may be an answer for your organization.
Information & registration

Fundraising Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards
Date & Time: October 19, 1:30 PM EST
Speaker: James M. Greenfield, ACFRE, FAHP
Cost: $87
Offered by: Charity Channel

Discover how to engage board members in fundraising, educate boards on their responsibilities and identify criteria for fundraising performance analysis.
Information & registration | Other topics available

“Missionize” Your Year-end Fundraising
Date & Time: October 20, 1 PM EST
Speaker: Terry Axelrod
Cost: Free
Offered by: Network for Good

The holiday season is upon us and, especially this year, thoughts are turning to good food, good cheer, and–of course–fundraising. While people are in a “caring and sharing” mood, they will also be looking more carefully as they make their year-end contributions. Does your nonprofit organization have a plan for strategically connecting with your donors over the holidays? Are you prepared to “missionize” each event?
Information & registration

Marketing & PR on a Shoestring: Keeping Communications Front & Center
Date & Time: October 28, 1PM EST
Speaker: Hannah Brazee Gregory
Cost: $99
Offered by: Society for Nonprofit Organizations (SNPO)

Covers: The most common mistakes nonprofit organizations make when it comes to marketing and public relations; strategies for improving your organizations message and brand; Real things you can do TODAY (at no cost) to market your nonprofit organization and further its mission.
Information & registration

Does Your Fundraising Measure Up?
Date & Time: October 28, 12 PM EST
Speaker: Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Cost: $10
Offered by: The NonProfit National Resource Directory

When and how do you evaluate your fundraising program? What should you measure? Why should you assess your development program? Who should be involved? Linda will discuss the who, what, when, where, why of a development audit, including standards against which to measure your program.
Information & registration

Listening to Your Donors through Data Gathering and Analysis
Date & Time: October 29, 2 PM EST
Speakers: Brian Cowart, Sr. Director, Mail Acquisition & Donor Retention, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Ann Crowley, Membership Director, Human Rights Campaign; Lindsey Twombly, Human Rights Campaign; George Whelan, Consumer Reports Foundation
Cost: $59 (Free to all 2009 New York Nonprofit Conference attendees.)
Offered by: Direct Marketing Association

Discover the ways in which other organizations are using donor touch points and data to determine the next steps in their donor relationships. Whether the data is based on one-to-one interactions or direct marketing interactions captured through the mail/web, it is all valuable if used in the right way.
Information & registration

Building a Development Committee
Date & Time: November 2, 1:30 PM EST
Speaker: Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Cost: $87
Offered by: Charity Channel

Webinar will cover who should serve on the Development Committee, what the committee’s role is, and how to recruit the right people to serve on the Development Committee.
Information & registration | Other topics available

Online Fundraising Bootcamp November 4: Special E-Clinic: Online Fundraising Bootcamp
Date & Time: November 4, 1 PM EST
Speaker: Kivi Leroux Miller
Cost: $75
Offered by: Nonprofit Marketing Guide

Is your online marketing and fundraising program ready to make the most of end-of-year giving? Whip it into shape by getting the must-knows and must-dos. Limited to 20 nonprofits only!
Information & registration | Other topics available

Strengthening Foundation Relationships
Date & Time: November 20, 1:30 PM EST
Format: Webinar
Speaker: John Greenhoe, CFRE
Cost: $87
Offered by: Charity Channel

Learn specific methods for making the initial approach to a prospective funder, and for following up in ways that make them stand out; strategies for building lasting and fulfilling foundation partnerships.
Information & registration | Other topics available

Mobilizing Volunteers in the Face of Budget Cuts
Date & Time: December, 1 PM EST
Speaker: Susan Ellis, President, Energize Inc.
Cost: $99
Offered by: Society for Nonprofit Organizations (SNPO)

Covers: Realistic expectations for volunteer contributions; determining what you need and finding the right volunteers who can really help; the wrong way to try to fill staff vacancies with volunteers; The right way to engage volunteers in stretching your budget.
Information & registration

Teleseminars & Webinars – On Demand or Download

These recorded and/or transcribed seminars are available at anytime that works for you!

Strengthen Your Year-End Fund Raising ­ And Sow the Seeds for a Successful 2010
Speaker: Bruce W. Flessner, Karla A. Williams
Cost: Non Subscribers $165.00, Subscribers $95.00
Offered by: The Chronicle of Philanthropy

This Webinar discusses strategies that charities can use to advance their year-end fund raising as they: Solicit major gifts, plan special events and Develop direct-mail, telephone, and online appeals.
Information & registration

Secrets of the Charity Auction Experts
Speakers: Dawn Rose-Sohnly, Steve Lieberstein, Karin Costa, Ray Hansen
Cost: $67
Offered by: Step by Step Fundraising

These seminars will make planning your auction easier and more profitable.  Includes audio recordings, printed transcripts and a Quick Start Guide – “81 Tips to Make Your Auction Great.”
Information & registration

I Can’t Thank You Enough: Winning Stewardship Strategies For The Tough Economy
Speaker: Marcy Heim, CFRE
Cost: $99
Offered by: Affinity Fundraising Seminars

Learn the key elements of a thoughtful stewardship plan; hear examples of how good stewardship is practiced; discover the importance of donor satisfaction and how to satisfy donors; get new insights and strategies for retaining your donors.
Information & registration | Other topics

Conferences and Seminars (In-Person)

Attending a live conference or workshop has many added benefits! You’ll have time to ask questions of the speakers before and after the sessions, network with other participants and attend the trade shows.

The American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP) Annual Conference
Dates: November 4 – 7
Location: Austin, TX
Speaker: Various; Keynotes from
Cost: $650 members, $750 non-members
Offered by: The American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP)

High-quality workshops on a wide variety of topics related to the grant field for a variety of skill levels and subject areas. The conference draws grant proposal writers, grant managers, nonprofit administrators, and consultants.
Information & registration

Fundraising Conference
Dates: Varies by location October – December 2009
Locations: Austin TX, Memphis TN, St. Louis MO, Minneapolis MN, Chicago IL, New Jersey, Charlotte NC
Speakers: Various
Cost: $55 per session or $169 full day
Offered by: OEG Conferences

Offers a variety of topics for fundraisers and nonprofit managers: grants, online fundraising, direct mail and other sessions available, depending on location.
Information & registration

Add to this list…

Do you know of other upcoming fundraising seminars?  Post the information in the comment box below.