AYN472 Fundraising and Philanthropy


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:AYN472
Credit points:12
Equivalent:GSN488 and GSN489
Coordinator:Wendy Scaife | w.scaife@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

Fundraising and philanthropy are related and vital topics for the community and the broad nonprofit sector.  The unit initially offers students a grounding based on history, terminology, key theories and models of these practices. It then explores key principles and techniques of fundraising to provide insights into what fundraising organisations must do now and in the emergent future to meet the needs of both the community and donors in a strategic way. The latter half of the subject allows students to investigate the philanthropy landscape from its structures, applied skills and knowledge needed, and critiques to its role in civil society. The subject builds understanding of both theory and practice in fundraising and philanthropic behaviour through a variety of resources. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Develop a collaborative fundraising pitch based on theories and contemporary trends in fundraising and philanthropy. PC (3.2), TS (4.2)
  2. Demonstrate information literacy skills to develop fundraising practices and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms. KS (1.1), PC (3.1)
  3. Identify and apply knowledge of key issues and trends in philanthropic behaviour and organisations. KS (1.1)
  4. Identify and respond to ethical and other issues within philanthropic practices. SE (5.1)

Content

  • Introduction to ethical fundraising, development, and philanthropy and their historical context; including exploring the wider environment and trends that impact upon planning, practice and measurement. 
  • Understanding what motivates people to give and keep giving, and what demotivates giving. 
  • Institutional or organisational readiness for fundraising and meeting donor expectations. Sources of support (financial and beyond) and how to identify and build these. 
  • Exploring philanthropic practices, organisations, stakeholders, skills, critiques, key issues and evaluation. 

Learning Approaches

This unit is delivered in a blended format to enable flexibility for students.  

It is appropriate for on-campus and off-campus students through the use of both classroom-based settings as well as online collaborative tools (such as Zoom) to facilitate discussion.  

All resource materials will be available each week from the Canvas Site, including lecture recordings.  

Students will be asked to do pre-reading and watch some prepared video materials before classes. This will be important to participating actively in the weekly 2.5 hour class meetings. These generally include a mix of lecture consolidation, class discussions, guest speakers, case studies and some breakout group exercises. A commitment to pre-reading and pre-listening to the assigned materials is essential to your learning. So too, actively engaging with your class in the discussions will deepen your understanding and provide good avenues to adapt the information to your own circumstances. It will also help you get to know others in your cohort better for future potential networking. 

Lectures are designed to introduce students to the concepts and principles that guide successful practice across a range of settings. Class discussions, guests and exercises further develop understanding of the issues and principles in practice.  

For those without any prior exposure to fundraising and philanthropy, wider reading is helpful. In summary, learning in this subject occurs through pre-reading, listening to lectures, asking questions, discussing and challenging ideas and issues, participating in class either online or in-person and follow-up reading and evaluation. All students are encouraged to make use of the consultation times with the lecturer or to seek a phone or Zoom appointment at other times if consultation hours do not fit your diary. 

All resource materials will be available each week from the Canvas Site, including a recording of the lectures and workshops. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include: 

  • Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation 
  • Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary 
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation 
  • Indirect: to the whole class 

Assessment

Overview

The assessment supports your achievement of the learning objectives for this Unit. It has been designed  to allow you to both: 

  • receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and 
  • demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment). 

Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Written case for support

A fundraising nonprofit organisation case will be provided to students. Students will develop a case statement for their assigned organisation. This written case statement will outline in appropriate terms the rationale for supporting the assigned organisation/some element or program within the organisation. Students will also detail to whom this fundraising outreach is directed and why.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 25
Length: 1000 words with 300-400 of these words comprising the target audience and why this audience has been selected as a fundraising constituency.
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 5
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2

Assessment: Recorded Verbal Team Pitch - Fundraising Plan

This assignment builds on the first assignment, and the task is to as a small team present a fundraising plan for the assigned organisation. Drawing upon lectures, as well as collective thinking and reading, this plan will outline how this organisation might raise funds.

Weight: 40
Length: 10 PowerPoints slides maximum and a 10-minute pitch.
Individual/Group: Group
Due (indicative): Week 9
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1

Assessment: Essay

Students will identify a contemporary real-world trend or issue, which has implications for philanthropic practice. Students will need to discuss by email or in person with the lecturer their topic of interest, by close of Week 8. Students will then write an analytical essay on the agreed topic. This essay MUST draw on and be supported by the literature to highlight any theory base and studies that exist in the area and explicitly consider ethical considerations arising from the trend or issue and ways these might be addressed.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 35
Length: 2000 words plus references
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

No additional requirements.

Costs

No additional costs.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Sargeant, Adrian, Shang, Jen and Associates (2017) Fundraising Principles and Practice (second edition), Hoboken, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey.  (Please note this is available as an e-book in the QUT Library). 

 

Recommended text(s)

Moody, Michael and Breeze, Beth (2017) The Philanthropy Reader, Routledge, London. 

Roe, Robinson and Dalton, Peter (2019) Giving Hope: The Journey of the For-Purpose Organisation and its Quest for Success, Palgrave Macmillan https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9789811361449 

Radbourne, Jennifer and Watkins, Kenneth (2015) Philanthropy and the Arts, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne. 

 

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the Emergency video. 

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge

Relates to: ULO2, Written case for support

KS (1.2): Technical, Technological and Research Skills

Relates to: ULO3, Essay

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO2, Written case for support , Essay

PC (3.2): Professional Communication (Oral)

Relates to: ULO1, Recorded Verbal Team Pitch - Fundraising Plan

SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding

Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Essay

TS (4.2): Teamwork Knowledge and Skills

Relates to: ULO1, Recorded Verbal Team Pitch - Fundraising Plan

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BS11 Master of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: ULO2, Written case for support
  2. Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO3, Essay
  3. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: Essay
  4. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: Recorded Verbal Team Pitch - Fundraising Plan
  5. Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, Recorded Verbal Team Pitch - Fundraising Plan
  6. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
    Relates to: ULO4, Written case for support , Essay

BS39 Graduate Certificate in Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: ULO2, Written case for support , Essay
  2. Apply technical, technological or technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO3
  3. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively in written forms and using appropriate media for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: ULO1, Essay
  4. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical or legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
    Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Written case for support , Essay