How to Fundraise from European Foundations

(Course Updated on June 2023)

Are you a fundraiser who is looking for ways to diversify your organization’s funding sources? Do you want to tap into new markets in Europe that you have not taken advantage of until now? Then this course is right for you!

Learn how to access funding from the thousands of foundations in Europe!

European foundations give a lot of money every year; 147,000 European foundations provided approximately €82.2 billion in 2022.

Nevertheless, many fundraisers are not familiar with many of the major European foundations and are not taking advantage of the funding opportunities they offer.

Different terminology, languages, the absence of a centralized database, and varying or nonexistent public reporting requirements can make it difficult to gather information about European foundations. There are many European foundations supporting projects all over the world; the challenge is to find the right needle in the haystack, to find the foundation donor matching your needs and areas of work.

What will you learn from this course?

  • Why you should not overlook the European funding landscape
  • How to focus your research to find great donor fits
  • How to find potential donors in Europe, even in difficult circumstances
  • What resources are available to help you in your research of European foundations?
  • How to use public resources and records effectively (i.e. the UK charity commission)
  • Where you can get the information that you need to network successfully with European Foundations?

You will receive all the information you need to start researching and networking with European foundations. In this course, our expert, Erik Detiger, will share his best tips and insights from his 20+ years of experience with you.

Furthermore, you will receive:

  • European foundation overview with links
  • European foundations: country resources with links
  • UK charity commission how-to guide
  • Template for your donor research
  • A copy of our bestselling ebook, “The NGO Guide to Proposal Writing,”

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

Philantropia is an approved provider of continuing education in fundraising. Full participation in “How to Raise Funds from European Foundations” 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.


Course Curriculum


  Introduction
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  Module 1 - The European Foundation Landscape
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  Module 2 - Finding Donors
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  Module 3 - Database and Directories
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  Module 5 - Engage and Network
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  Module 6 - Donor Culture
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  Module 7 - Applying
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  Course Recap
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  Quiz: How to Fundraise from European Foundations
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  Downloads and supporting materials
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
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.

Join this course now for an introduction into fundraising from European foundations and learn how to diversify your funding sources to put your fundraising strategy on more stable legs. Turn around your fundraising today and sign up now!

Get started now!