Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership

Program Details

The Fundraising Leadership Series provides development professionals with essential leadership skills to be a strategic leader in their organization. The unique design of this certificate series, co-created with nonprofit leaders, recognizes the central role of development in a nonprofit’s culture, strategy, and communications. Participants will engage with other development professionals in an interactive program that builds their capacity as organizational leaders and changemakers. Each session will feature senior nonprofit leaders from across the region who will share their expertise and experiences on the topic.

Upon completion, development professionals will have applied experience in their organization’s context using leadership tools and knowledge they acquire. Additionally, they will exhibit the capacity to better lead strategic development operations in nonprofit organizations.

Module 1 – Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (8:30-11:30am)
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri

Often development responsibility falls on a small segment of people siloed from the organization’s operations. Building a Culture of Philanthropy assists and supports participants to lead and manage development activity to and for all within the organization.

Objectives of Module One:

• Participants should gain an understanding of the components of a culture of philanthropy.
• Participants should begin to understand how to build a culture of philanthropy.
• Participants should learn how to examine their development department’s culture and operations to assess whether they are on course to create a culture of philanthropy.

Module 2 – Strong Donor Relationships
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 (8:30-11:30am)
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri

Building strong relationships with both prospective and current donors lies at the very heart of effective fundraising. These relationships are rooted in a shared belief in the nonprofit’s mission and are nurtured through ongoing, thoughtful engagement. Establishing and sustaining such meaningful connections is a long-term, intentional process—one that requires strategy, empathy, and commitment.

Learning Objectives for Module Two:

• Deepen participants’ appreciation for the value of cultivating authentic relationships between donors and the causes they care about.
• Introduce the principles of Ken Burnett’s (2002) Relationship Fundraising, highlighting its relevance in today’s philanthropic landscape.
• Equip participants with a framework for systematically building and strengthening mutually beneficial donor relationships over time.

Module 3 – Boards and Fundraising
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (8:30-11:30am)
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri

Engaging nonprofit boards of directors in fundraising is both a complex challenge and a critical opportunity. While many boards struggle to participate meaningfully in development efforts, those that do often experience transformative results for their organizations. When board members are actively involved in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors, they become powerful ambassadors who can significantly strengthen fundraising outcomes over time. Understanding how to effectively engage board members in this work is essential for nonprofit leaders.

Learning Objectives for Module Three:

• Explore the various roles board members can play in supporting the fundraising enterprise.
• Learn best practices for cultivating board engagement in development efforts.
• Understand how involving board members in fundraising can enhance their sense of purpose and deepen their connection to the organization’s mission.

Module 4 – Developing & Strengthening Talent
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (8:30-11:30am)
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri

Unemployment is near a historic low, which creates serious obstacles for nonprofit leaders to recruit and retain development professionals. Developing & Strengthening Talent provides participants with tools to assess staff, build a culture that maximizes talent, and cultivate leadership within the development area of your organization.

Objectives for Module Four:

• Participants should identify approaches for recruiting high quality development staff.
• Participants should learn best practices for retaining development staff.
• Participants should develop an understanding of strategies for training, evaluating and rewarding development staff.

Module 5 – Strategic Communications
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 (8:30-11:30am)
IN-PERSON SESSION – UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri

When we say development, how many people think of the ask? The ask is the part of the iceberg above water that you see, building audience and a prospect database accounts for the 90% of the iceberg that goes unseen. In Strategic Communications, participants will be equipped with the tools essential for building a bigger and better audience of prospective donors.

Objectives for Module Five:

• Participants should learn how to utilize the components of a market driven nonprofit.
• Participants should understand how to operationalize donor-centered fundraising principles.
• Participants should recognize how to retain donors using their mission and storytelling.

Program Location:
Each module is delivered from 8:30am to 11:30am. These sessions are held in-person at the UMKC Bloch Executive Hall, 5108 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri.

Cancellation and Transfer Policy:
Full refunds will be given when cancellations are made at least five working days before the first session. A $50 cancellation fee will be deducted from refunds when notification occurs fewer than five working days before class begins. No refunds will be made after the first session has begun. You may transfer your registration by contacting MCNL at (816) 235-5720 or culverm@umkc.edu

Photo and Video Release:
By attending the event, you are giving MCNL permission to use photos and videos from the workshop in future promotional materials.