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For over a decade, our team of experts at the Donor Relations Group have been teaching donor relations, onboarding new team members, and training donor relations departments across the globe.
Now, we've distilled this wealth of knowledge and experience into an interactive, energetic program designed to provide you with the foundational elements needed to achieve excellence in donor relations.​
This 10-month cohort experience combines expert-led instruction with small group coaching to help you apply what you learn in real time. You'll engage in a blend of peer-driven problem-solving and timely, topical conversations—designed to deliver practical strategies you can implement right away, along with the leadership skills to take your career to the next level.
Is this program right for me?
This live, facilitated course is designed for those who are new to the field—with less than 2 years of experience—OR are changing career paths into donor relations and want to learn the fundamentals and best practices as outlined in The Four Pillars of Donor Relations.
Throughout our 10-month program, we'll dive deep into the proven strategies for success in our profession, all grounded in our core belief that donor relations is the key to fundraising success.
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How does it work?
The program runs from August 2025 - May 2026, and you'll attend two, 60- minute meetings each month—that's one full academic year of support!
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The first meeting of each month will be a dynamic presentation, delivered by DRG’s expert facilitators. The second meeting will be a breakout, small group conversation, designed to create a cohort learning environment where personal questions are answered and a tight-knit community of learners is built. These second monthly meetings are perfect for asking all those timely questions we face throughout the course of a year such as, “How do I get through all of these year-end acknowledgments?” or “Help me figure out how to improve my spring scholarship banquet!”
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Meetings will be held via Zoom. Participants should plan to attend all meetings with cameras on, ready to learn and engage.
How do I join?
No application is necessary for this program. Just register below by July 30 and your'e in! Registration is per person and cannot be shared with others in the organization. ​
Is it worth it?
What You Will Get
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10 hours of live training delivered by DRG’s expert speakers in thoughtful and engaging webinar presentations
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10 hours of small group strategic ideation and problem-solving held over Zoom in a conversational, ask-and-answer format (think group consulting!)
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A digital course workbook with more than 40 pages of content to enhance learning and reinforce key concepts
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A virtual learning community of peers and mentors where ideas, examples, and best practices can be shared
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Access to exclusive DRG downloads and templates
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A digital badge to share on LinkedIn or other professional profiles
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Please note: All meetings will be held at 12 pm ET.
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What You Will Learn
This program is designed to equip you with the essential skills and insights every donor relations professional needs—no matter your organization’s size or structure.
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Each month, you’ll participate in two engaging sessions:
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A formal training led by DRG experts
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A peer-driven, problem-solving discussion focused on the real challenges your cohort is facing
You’ll walk away with tactical, practical advice and group consulting support to immediately apply what you’ve learned.
Topics include:
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Understanding your role as a donor relations professional
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An introduction to the Four Pillars of Donor Relations
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Best practices in Acknowledgments, Stewardship, Recognition & Engagement
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Strategies to better know and connect with your donors
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Tools to measure the impact of your work
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How to build a donor relations plan and demonstrate your team’s value internally
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Peer benchmarking and comparisons to help you see how you stack up—and where you can grow
Your Investment
A 10-month membership in the Accelerator Program is $1,750. This comprehensive training program will provide you with a wealth of in-depth knowledge and unparalleled professional support. Plus, you’ll build a strong network of peers across the sector! ​​
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A limited number of full program scholarships are available. Scholarship applications will be accepted until July 11. All applicants will be notified of their scholarship status by July 18.