Donor Research

Finding the Right Funders

  Enroll in Course

Learn everything you need to know about donor research in this online course!

Are you having problems identifying new potential donors? Do you feel like the donor landscape for your field is overwhelming? Are you spending way too much time on research and have no real system for it? We have the solution for you!

Thorough, organized donor research is essential to identifying whether a good donor is a good fit for your goals and areas of work. Before you can start working on your proposal, you need to know where you can submit it. The more information you can gather about a potential donor, the better you can tailor the proposal to their needs and interests. Sometimes the information available can be overwhelming, and a good system to organize the information is crucial so you don’t waste time and effort.

What will you learn from this course?

  • Practicalities of donor research
  • The importance and value of systemic donor research
  • Best practices and strategic approaches to donor research
  • How to organize your donor research

This course consists of:

  • Video lectures with tips and tricks from our instructor, Erik Detiger, where he shares his experiences from more than two decades of work in the fundraising field
  • A quiz that will make sure you understand everything you need to know
  • A cheat sheet with all the important information for when you are in a hurry
  • A workbook that will help you implement the lessons learned in your organization

Who should take the course?

  • NGO managers and executive directors
  • Fundraising and development professionals for local and international NGOs
  • Non-profit consultants and consulting firms
  • Fundraisers for local NGOs and small organizations
  • Fundraisers for a cause close to their heart
  • Students

Learn how to do effective organized donor research to find the right funders for your work today. With a strategic approach, you will see your fundraising efforts provide better results in no time!

Philantropia is an approved provider of continuing education in fundraising. Full participation in “donor research” is applicable for 3.0 points in Category 1. B: Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification. CFRE is an independent certification for fundraising professionals that aims to set standards in philanthropy through a valid and reliable certification process for fundraising professionals.

Participation in this program may assist you in learning or reviewing concepts covered on the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) examination as detailed on the Test Content Outline provided by CFRE International. CFRE International does not sponsor or endorse any educational programs, and the (educational program title) was not developed in conjunction with CFRE International.


Your Instructor


Erik Detiger
Erik Detiger

Hello! My name is Erik Detiger and I am a professional with over two decades of experience working in the field of international philanthropy and fundraising. As a highly successful international project manager and fundraising professional, I have raised over US$200 million for numerous international projects from a wide variety of government agencies, foundations, and institutions. I am the founder of Philantropia - an independent consultancy based in New York specialized in international fundraising and philanthropy and am excited to share my knowledge with you on this platform.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a self-paced online course - you can finish whenever you want to. After registration, every week another module gets unlocked - so you can finish the course in 5 weeks. If you have a busy schedule, you can take longer though - no pressure!
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

Enroll in this course now to learn everything you need to know about donor research for your organization! See you on the inside!

Get started now!