Fundraising Proposal Writing for NPOs
Course Design Case Study
Short online course designed to help nonprofit professionals research funding opportunities and write persuasive fundraising request letters.
The Challenge
Many NPO staff and volunteers are expected to write funding proposals despite having little formal training in fundraising or proposal development. The challenge was to create a practical, accessible course that would help learners identify suitable funders, analyse proposal letters and develop their own funding requests.
My Approach
I designed a mobile-friendly online course for South African NPO workers using Google Classroom. The course combines instructional content, practical activities, discussion opportunities and scenario-based learning to support real-world application. Content development was informed by research into fundraising practices, proposal-writing techniques and adult learning principles to ensure the course was both practical and evidence-informed.
Particular attention was given to accessibility, low-data usage, clear instructions and learner confidence. The course uses fictional organisations and funders to create a psychologically safe environment in which learners can practise new skills before applying them in their own workplaces. The course goal was to move learners beyond understanding fundraising concepts towards applying them in realistic proposal-writing situations, supporting both confidence and workplace transfer.
Deliverables
Course structure and learning pathway
Learning notes and resources
Scenario-based learning activities
Google Forms branching scenario
Discussion activities
Assessments and rubrics
Downloadable checklists and job aid
Infographics and visual learning supports
Scripted video presentations
Canva-designed learning resources
Skills Demonstrated
Learning Design
Online Course Development
Educational Content Development
Adult Learning Design
Assessment Design
Scenario-Based Learning
Research & Information Synthesis
Resource & Job Aid Development
Video Scripting & Presentation Development
Visual Learning Design (Canva)
AI-Assisted Content Creation
Learning Design Consideration
The course was designed around principles of adult learning, workplace relevance and practical application. Activities encourage learners to apply concepts directly to realistic fundraising situations, while downloadable resources provide tools that can be used beyond the course itself. Authentic tasks were incorporated throughout the course to ensure that learning activities reflected the types of challenges participants are likely to encounter in real fundraising environments.
Course Walkthrough
Design Snapshots
