Sample Seminar Outline

The following is an outline of a typical seminar. Naturally, it can be modified to fit the audience and time constraints.

Overview: Global View of Philanthropy. (1 hour)

• Trends which make professional fund development important for CSOs.
  
  
• Strategies and techniques which work around the world.
  
  
• Motivating potential donors.
  • Universal truths about donors and solicitors.
  • Differences among types of donors: individuals, businesses, foundations, foreign governments, and multilateral institutions.

Self-examination of the civil society organization (1 hour )

• Internal organization of the fund development effort.
  
  
• Clarifying its mission and its financial needs.
  
  • The roles of the Board, the Executive Director, the staff and the advisors.
    
    
• Strategies for asking.
  • For what? The CSO's budget.
    
  • From whom? The CSO's natural market.
    
  • How? Overview of techniques.

Annual and capital campaigns: techniques, meetings, documents, data (2 hours)

Written proposals to businesses and institutions (1 hour)

• Personal solicitations and letters: What should you say? How should you say it?
  

Conclusion (1 hour)

• All of civil society should unite to improve itself and to educate possible donors.
  
• The experience of civil society umbrella groups in various countries.
  
• Final questions (in addition to ample time for discussion previously).