Self-Paced Nonprofit Program – Module 6

MODULE 6 – Marketing Your Purpose and Fundraising

This module focuses on building sustainable public support through intentional marketing and fundraising strategies. Participants receive a comprehensive development plan and practical guidance on working with grantmaking organizations—including what to do and what to avoid—shared by Strengthen ND leadership.

You’ll also learn how to engage your community through Friendraising Events and use the provided Budget Income Analysis worksheet to assess current funding sources and develop strategies to grow public support.

Includes: development planning tools, fundraising worksheets, and grant engagement guidance.

My name is Nancy Heskin-Rakness, Director of Nonprofit Education for Strengthen ND. My background is 25 years with the Girl Scouts, two years as a troop leader and 23 years in the role of regional CEO. During that time, I gained national certification status by meeting the competencies of a nonprofit executive through application and testing. My career history also includes the following roles: district administrator, interim executive director, and human resources manager. Through the years, I attended well over one hundred educational conferences, and I kept track of what worked and made a positive impact. My aim is to share what I learned to support your efforts to increase the capacity and sustainability of your nonprofit.

Each module in Strengthen ND’s Nonprofit Certificate Program is designed to build practical leadership capacity through structured, self-paced online learning. Participants complete pre- and post-session confidence surveys, review curated resources, and download editable templates to apply directly within their organization. Course materials are accessible only through registration and cannot be edited online.