Ethical Fundraising Communications for Charity Marketers and Managers
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£875
- Start Date(s): 15 September 2025
- Duration: Monday 2 – 4 pm, Tuesday 10 am – 4 pm, Wednesday 10 am – 4 pm, Thursday 10 am – 1 pm
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
15 – 18 September 2025, Monday to Thursday
Most charities are filled with well-intentioned and thoughtful people who want to contribute to making the world a better place. However, with so many causes to choose from, it can be difficult for organisations to gain the traction that they would like from their fundraising communications.
This can lead to ethical quandaries as to how to promote the cause and sometimes even missteps that will sit uneasily on the conscience of the decision-makers.
This course offers charity professionals the opportunity to make better sense of the ethical world that revolves around their organisation.
You will learn about ethics and their application within the non-profit sector, and be given the opportunity to explore, debate and critically analyse examples of ethical and unethical practice.
There will also be opportunities for supervised study and reflection, and the course will conclude with you delivering a short presentation about how your understanding of ethics will inform your work in the future.
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You will meet a community of charity professionals in an environment that that encourages thoughtful discussion, collaboration and experimentation. -
With limited class sizes, you will have the opportunity for one-to-one support from the course leader to ensure you leave with the knowledge and skills to continue developing your ideas in your workplace. -
You will benefit from working with an experienced tutor who has studied the non-profit sector for over a decade and who has significant experience of working in promotional communications. -
On successful completion of the course you will receive a digital certificate of attendance.
Here’s what other charity professionals said:
“I have used ethics every day of my career as a content producer within the charity sector and most it I have had to learn as I went. What this course is trying to achieve is of vital importance to the integrity of our industry.” (Nerida Williams, Senior Media Advisor, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF))
“(Ethical issues have) always been there but I know much more about it in the two years since I’ve left the industry than I ever did in the 25 years I was working within the industry. From my own experiences I can say I was complicit through not understanding. I was just not aware, and that’s not an excuse. I should have been aware.” (Carol Sherman, Independent Humanitarian and International Development Consultant)
What you’ll study
During this course, you will:
- be taught about ethics by experienced and engaging lecturers who will inspire and make your learning experience enjoyable.
- participate in critical discussions about real-life ethical scenarios involving charities.
- work with other charity professionals to explore your industry and how to make it more ethical.
- be offered one-to-one sessions where you can debate the ethical predicaments related to your work in more detail.
- develop engaging and thoughtful fundraising communications that fits well with the ethics of your organisation.
- Here is a breakdown of what you’ll be studying during the course:
- By the end of the course, you will have developed the following knowledge and skills:
Monday
- Session 1: What is ‘good’? Understanding Ethics and Moral Consciousness
- Session 2: Exploring ethical and unethical behaviour in charity fundraising
- Session 3: Guest speaker
Tuesday
- Session 4: Ego, compassion, malice and love as motivators of human behaviour
- Session 5: Guest speaker
- Session 6: Supervised study and one-to-ones
- Session 7: Group work
- Session 8: Poverty porn, recipient testimonials and celebrity endorsement
Wednesday
- Session 9: Statutory tenders and the super-rich
- Session 10: Guest speaker
- Session 11: Group discussion
- Session 11: Group work
- Session 12: Supervised study and one-to-ones
Thursday
- Session 13: Presentations and closing remarks
- Improved your understanding of ethics and its importance within fundraising communications.
- Advanced your knowledge of key writers and practitioners involved in the study of ethics.
- Participated in forthright critical discussions about the role of ethics in the non-profit sector.
- Collaborated with other charity professionals to produce a thoughtful and inspired presentation.
How you’re taught
This course will be delivered in person at Nottingham Trent University’s City Campus.
It will include lectures, discussions, seminars, talks from guest speakers and practical workshops and tutorials in the studio where you will complete your final presentation.
Contact hours
You will receive 15 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
The course is designed to help you become a more ethically aware charity professional who uses that knowledge in the development of a concise communications strategy.
Certificate of attendance and digital badge
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by Accredible.
Your digital credential is more than just a certificate – it’s secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud through encryption and blockchain technology.
They also come with detailed metadata, including an overview of the skills you have achieved on the course, evidence of completion, and assessment criteria if appropriate.
Share your achievements seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online, and proudly add your badge or certificate to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, so all the right people can see it.
Campus and facilities
You will be based at NTU’s City Campus in our spacious and stylish classrooms.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You will also have access to our library and to key literature related to your course; whilst you cannot reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as resources for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Professional
Entry requirement: You must be over the age of 18 to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £875.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and lunch and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
Participants are advised to bring a laptop, pen and paper with them.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
How to apply
You can book your place via NTU online store:
15 – 18 September 2025, Monday to Thursday
Browse all our short courses in journalism, marketing and PR.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 2813