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Welcome!
The Fundraising and Volunteer Management program at Humber College offers a one-year, full-time program starting in September.
This is a unique program. Hands-on projects and case studies teach students to design and run organized, highly effective, campaigns.
What you can learn is so useful!
This program prepares students for jobs where they can satisfy their passion for causes such as the environment, animal welfare, children, health care, human services, women’s rights, politics, education, arts and culture, sports / recreation etc.
Your future might be as an executive director, development officer, board member, special event coordinator, direct mail copywriter, corporate relations officer, donor researcher, campaign manager, donor liaison specialist, or grant writer.
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions. For more information contact Ken Wyman at ken.wyman@humber.ca.
Plenty of jobs await the graduates. As an emerging career, fundraising is expanding rapidly. More than 92 per cent of our graduates find jobs in this profession within 6 months or less.
The payback from employers: Grads of the Humber program have started jobs at up to $65,000 a year. The average starting salary is in the mid $40s. The return on your investment is worthwhile even in the short-term.
Canada has over 80,000 registered charities, raising over $112 billion each year, plus anotehr 80,000 non-profit groups.
“Throughout the not-for-profit sector, fundraising efforts are being redoubled as government funding becomes even tighter. Successful fundraisers will be in demand for some years.”
-Janis Foord Kirk, Toronto Star
The Humber certificate program is very hands on. Students work directly with non-profit groups, in assignments, volunteer experiences and a third-semester internship. Students create direct mail packages and grant applications and develop and run complete special events, to name just a few of the practical assignments.
Humber courses are all live in the classroom, not delivered over the internet. The full-time program is very intensive -- students work very hard and receive a huge amount of information. Classes take 25 hours a week, during day time hours, with additional homework.
Who does well in this program? People thrive in this program from a wide variety of backgrounds.
- Some are fresh from university or college courses and wondering what to do with a degree or diploma in social service work, English, arts/music/film/culture, kinesiology, political science, recreation, journalism, health sciences, business, sociology, women's studies, environmental studies, law, accounting, business, social work or a variety of other undergraduate or graduate studies programs.
- Others have been in the work-force for a few years and found employment did not offer the right kind of rewards, in particular, they crave the satisfaction of knowing your work makes a difference in people's lives.
- A significant number each year are mature students in their thirties, forties and fifties, making a career change, consolidating their experience in the non-profit sector to make a leap up the ladder, or returning to the work force.
International students bring a valuable perspective from around the world.
What they all share in common is:
- Love of communicating, with strong written and oral English.
- Passion for making the world (or one small part of it) a better place.
- Willingness to work hard during the program and in the nonprofit sector.
The most rewarding aspect is seeing the results of your work. The money you raise can save lives and change the world. It is uplifting to have donors thank you for allowing them to contribute. It is exciting to see a plan come together.
Admission to the postgraduate program requires a bachelor's degree or better.
Humber welcomes people from across the spectrum of diversity, including differently abled people, First Nations people, people of colour, gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans-gendered, and working class people.
Schedule: The Humber fundraising certificate program is one year-long. The daytime certificate program starts each year in September.
Can you work while taking the full-time course?
Yes, many students have part-time jobs. Humber recommends students not work more than 12 hours a week, because this program is so intensive. Students are in class 25 hours a week (about double the usual university load) and there is a great deal of homework.
Emphasis on fundraising. This program concentrates on the skills to build a career as a fundraiser, which includes extensive work with volunteers.
“I still rave about the Humber fundraising program… to everyone I talk to about my past and training. I do feel that it was one of the best programs for both theory and practical skill learning.
- Graham Hill, graduate
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