The program began in May 1998 as a full-time residence program. In February 2000, we began offering courses online through Part-time Studies beginning with Planned Giving.

Since then, we have received numerous requests for the continued development of online opportunities from individuals working in the sector. As a result, the entire program is now available online through Part-time Studies.

Courses are offered through an online application called Blackboard and supported with instruction materials, including a comprehensive course guide and appropriate texts and readings. Blackboard is the main communication centre for the course. Instructors communicate with students as a group through the use of regular announcements, email, and Discussion Board, and students may communicate with instructors and other students through the Discussion Board and email.

Instructors post assigned readings, PowerPoint presentations, which focus on key concepts, and provide direct links to online supplemental readings. Many courses provide short quizzes for each unit, and assignments or projects. Only two courses use final exams – Computer Applications and Planned Giving.

While the courses do have a prescribed schedule, one may choose to complete the readings, quizzes and computer discussion board components of the program at any time of the day or night, from their home or office within the time frame of the unit. There are no requirements for students to attend classes or participate in synchronous chat-line discussions.

Assignments and projects are submitted online in a “digital drop box” in the Blackboard application, and marked assignments are returned to the student using the drop box or email. Alternative arrangements may be made in the case of technical or Internet access problems.

Workload differs from individual to individual – it depends on learning styles, reading speed, experience and prior learning, expectations, and motivation levels.  We do strongly recommend that students commit a minimum of six hours per week per course – this will vary from week to week – more when assignments are due, less when an assignment has just been submitted.

In most cases, assignments are project-based – giving students an opportunity to focus on relevant, real-life examinations of current practices. For example, students may be asked to analyze a current fundraising plan, or write a brief annual plan or a grant proposal. Assignments may include research papers, quizzes, projects, discussion contributions and sometimes exams. Planned Giving and Computer Applications do have timed final exams. Both exams are open book, reflecting the real life practice of using and utilizing reference materials.

There are no prerequisites for the courses. The best course to begin with depends on your background and professional experience. For some, the Introduction to Philanthropy course is the best course to begin with, since it gives students an opportunity to examine the sector and how each fundraising vehicle fits into a program. For others with considerable experience who are considering PLARs for several of the courses, they may consider going right in to the specialty courses.

Textbooks range in cost from $45 to $200 (averaging $700 for all the course texts).  We do our best to ensure quality learning materials that will be useful reference tools in your real-life work when the course ends.

The student selects internships with input from the program Co-ordinator (to ensure appropriate placement).  Placements are closely monitored, and evaluated by both the Placement Agency, and the College Internship Monitor – students are required to submit a final portfolio to the Internship Monitor, demonstrating competency in each of the learning outcomes.  Students must receive a satisfactory evaluation from both the Placement Agency and College in order to receive a Passing grade in the Internship.

If you are already employed in the sector, and your workplace agrees to allow you variable responsibilities in order to meet the learning outcomes of the placement, you may complete your placement there.  If you have been employed in the sector for some time, and believe you have already met the outcomes of the placement through this employment, you may be eligible to complete a Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR). The placement may be PLAR’d through the presentation of a competency based portfolio.

In order to receive the College Graduate Certificate, you must either complete the Internship Placement, (which is considered to be a full academic semester) or successfully achieve credit through a Prior Learning Assessment Recognition process

The program does not grant exemptions to courses, but does have a Prior Learning Assessment Recognition process in place to recognize prior learning acquired through life and work experience.

In recognition of prior learning, students may obtain up to 75% of their required program  courses through PLAR – in this program, you may PLAR up to seven courses and the Internship placement.  You must successfully complete a minimum of five program courses in addition to the PLAR in order to receive the Georgian College Ontario College Graduate Certificate.

PLAR is an evaluation of prior formal and informal learning acquired through life and work experience. It involves the assessment and evaluation of acquired equivalent knowledge and skills that match the learning outcomes of a Georgian College course. The focus of assessment is on evaluation of learning using a variety of techniques. Learning is assessed on an individual basis.

Guidelines for PLAR

A course is challenged using PLAR based on life and work experience gained through one or more of the following: employment, independent study, training programs, non-credit courses, travel, volunteer and community work or special skills and interests.
Learners may obtain up to 75% of their program certificate or diploma courses through PLAR.

Prior learning may be assessed in a number of ways. All PLARs in the Fundraising & Resource Development Program are competency based, and are evaluated through the presentation of a Portfolio demonstrating the achievement of course learning outcomes. (with the exception of the Computer Applications course, in which students are required to successfully complete a three hour comprehensive computer examination).

The cost for PLAR is $111 for portfolio reviews or competency exams.

We recognize some individuals only want to complete one or two of the specialty courses.  While we do expect all registrants have the admission requirements for the program, you do not have to officially apply to the program until you have completed three courses.  You must apply to the program prior to registering for a fourth course.

We strongly recommend you register several weeks prior to the start date of a course. This will provide ample time for you to receive confirmation of your registration from Georgian College and to order and receive your textbooks in time for the course start date.  However, we will accept registrations until the end of the add/drop date (usually 2 weeks after the course begins).  Click on the How to Apply or Part-time Studies link for more information. Forms can also be requested by fax or mail from our Continuing Education office in Orillia.

Registration forms may be downloaded from our website www.georgianc.on.ca/fundraising/registration or requested by fax or mail from our Part-time Studies office in Orillia.

Completed forms may be mailed with payment or faxed with credit card information to:

Georgian College Part-time Studies
Fundraising & Resource Development Program
825 Memorial Avenue, Box 2316
Orillia, ON
L3V 6S2
Phone:  (705) 329-3129 or (705) 325-2740 ext. 3027
Fax: (705) 325-3690

The cost for full-time studies for the 2009/2010 school year is $5,350.23. Payments are divided into 3, with the fees due as follows:
Semester 1: $1,836.09
Semester 2: $1,737.07
Semester 3: $1,737.07

Financial assistance may be available for full-time students, depending on a student’s circumstances. For more information, visit http://www.georgianc.on.ca/admissions/finances.

Yes. The Fundraising & Resource Development program offers part-time studies in a convenient on-line format, whether you want to increase your skills in one or two specific areas or wish to work towards your Graduate Certificate. Click on the Part-time Studies link for more information.

To participate as a part-time student (registering in 1 – 3 courses per semester) you will pay for each course as you take them ($276.36 per course – 2009 fees).

In order to receive the College Graduate Certificate, you must either complete the Internship Placement, (which is considered to be a full academic semester) or successfully achieve credit through a Prior Learning Assessment Recognition process. When you are ready to complete the internship placement, you will need to register and pay tuition fees for that component of the program. Please check with the program co-ordinator for the cost of placement.

The non-profit sector is growing fast and there is more demand than ever for fundraising professionals. The Canadian charitable sector is at least 11 times the size of the motor vehicle manufacturing sector and 50% larger than the retail sector with over 161,000 organizations.

Graduates from the Fundraising & Resource Development program have gone on to work in rewarding positions at hospitals, post-secondary institutions, public libraries and foundations, as well as national and local non-profit organizations.

Like most professions, salaries vary and depend on experience and length of service but according to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), average salaries for Canadian charitable fundraisers increased by 9.2 per cent to $71,827 from 2005 to 2007.

Yes! Following your passion to make a difference in the world is very rewarding. According to U.S. News & World Report in 2009, fundraising is one of the top 30 careers that offer ‘strong outlooks and high job satisfaction’.

Absolutely! This program is imperative if you want to sharpen your skills in all or specific areas of fundraising or you want to further your professional goals by achieving a Graduate Certificate.

Yes. As the Fundraising & Resource Development program is fully on-line, you will need access to a computer and the internet to participate in the courses and assignments, and to correspond with your instructors and fellow classmates.

The instructors are a dynamic group of professionals with proven track records of success in the field of fundraising and teaching. Click on the Faculty Profiles link to read the qualifications of each individual instructor.

Yes. Visit our Centre for Access and Disability Services at http://www.georgianc.on.ca/c4a/.

An on-line student is expected to:

• Be proactive and manage time wisely
• Juggle several tasks simultaneously
• Be able to communicate effectively through writing
• Participate on the discussion board several times a week
• Commit a minimum average of six hours per week to each course – more when assignments are due
• Be able to work independently or with others when completing projects
• Have some proficiency when using technology
• Be able to meet minimum standards as set forth by the institution
• Enjoy reading

If you can answer YES to many of these points, and you require or enjoy the flexibility that online learning can provide, online learning may just be the way for you to gain valuable knowledge and skills while earning your graduate certificate!