FAQs
How do I get access?
How does the course work?
Who is the course for?
What does the course provide?
How long will I have access for?
Can I attend a training course?
What's in it for me?
Where and when can I access Fundraising Learning Online?
When will other online courses be made available?
Do I gain a qualification if I pass the course?
How much do the course cost, and is there a discount for members?
How do I get access?
To use IoF Academy Online, you need an Institute of Fundraising user account. If you’re an Institute member or have registered previously (e.g to book events), you’ll already have one of these, so please sign in as normal. If you don’t have an account, you can follow the links to create one.
or
If you have problems with registration or login, please contact the Institute’s Learning team.
^topHow does the Introductory Certificate in Fundraising work?
The ‘Introductory Certificate in Fundraising’ course, which is the first in a proposed series, contains a number of modules with a variety of learning activities to support all learning styles. You'll be asked to answer questions, think about situations and complete exercises online, with instant access, where necessary, to further reading on relevant topics.
You can work through each module at your own speed, but as a guide expect to spend a minimum 1 hour of learning per module.
You can also see how others have tackled an exercise by viewing their responses. This feature is anonymous, making sure that your privacy is protected at all times.
^topWho is the course for?
The course is designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of individuals, including:
What does the course provide?
Our key objectives are to enable learners to:
At the heart of all Institute courses – and detailed in the ‘Introductory Certificate in Fundraising’ - is the Fundraising Cycle, upon which all fundraising activity is based.
^topHow long will I have access for?
Once you’ve purchased access to the Introductoery Certificate in Fundraising course or any of the other courses, this gives you a license to use it for 12 months.
^topCan I attend a training course?
The Introductory Certificate in Fundraising is offered as an online course or as a regional course. All of the other online courses are not directly linked to a training course but there are qualifications and fundraising skills courses that you can access as face-to-face training. Please see the Institute of Fundraising website for further information.
You can also network with fundraisers through the Institute’s National, Regional and Special Interest Groups, which run a series of conferences, events and workshops. You don’t need to be a member of the Institute to use these opportunities, but normally there is a discount for Members.
The Institute also runs a series of conferences and events at which you can meet and hear the latest from the UK’s leading fundraisers. National Convention, our flagship conference, is the largest event of its kind outside North America.
Our standards for fundraising are defined and explained in greater depth in Code of Conduct and Codes of Fundraising Practice, which are recognised throughout the not-for-profit sector. Even if you are not a member of the Institute these codes are an excellent foundation upon which to base all fundraising.
^topWhat's in it for me?
A comprehensive knowledge of fundraising
If you “don’t know what you don’t know” that is when key issues can be missed! Even if you already have some fundraising experience, this course ensures that there are no gaps in your knowledge.
Access to the latest information
Fundraising and its related activities are in a constant state of change, and our courses are linked to the latest sources to ensure you have the most up-to-date information at your fingertips.
A high standard of learning and practice
The Institute of Fundraising, which produces and accredits the course, is the UK’s professional body for fundraising. Learning materials are based upon our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in fundraising.
Flexibility
By learning online you’re not tied down to attending or having to travel to training according to someone else’s timetable. We’ve designed our courses to make it easier for you to manage your own schedule.
Learn at your own pace
Courses are structured and designed so that you can take your time, returning to the materials as and when necessary. You can use the unique benefits of online learning to spend more time on areas of special interest to you, work more quickly through familiar topics, or test your existing knowledge to ensure you’ve got the latest information.
Where and when can I access IoF Academy Online?
The key to the system is its flexibility; although you’ll need a computer with an internet connection to work through the modules online, you can print exercises to read - or download and listen to podcasts - while on the move or during a gap in your schedule. You could also, if appropriate, schedule your e-learning into a formal timetable as part of your daily work.
^topWhen will other online courses be made available?
We’ll be releasing further IoF Academy Online courses throughout 2012.
^topDo I gain a qualification if I pass the course?
After completing the Introductory Certificate in Fundraising you may then go onto complete the Assessment. You must be a member to state that you have the Introductory Certificate in Fundraising.
The other short courses do not result in a formal qualification but you should still add these to your CPD log and CV
^topHow much do the course cost, and is there a discount for members?
Introductory Certificate in Fundraising Online = £75
Assessment Fee: £125, payable online by credit/debit card at time of booking online assessment, which includes the first year of IoF membership (existing members will have their current renewal date extended by one year).
The other courses are charged at £49 for Institute of Fundraising members and £69 for non-members.
Special rates are available for charities that wish to purchase block licenses of 10 or more with additional discount for Organisational members of the Institute. These are available on application to the Institute’s Professional Development department.