Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising & Development Online - City Vision University

Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising & Development Online - City Vision University
The
most affordable
accredited online Christian
Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising and Development
Request Information
Courses
Months (Full-Time)
Tuition
$800/course or $267/credit
Next Start Date
June 8, 2026
Class Type
100% Online, 8 Week Courses
Transfer Credits
Up to 25% of credits can be transferred or come from prior learning assessment
What Will You Learn in City Vision's
Online Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising?
Courses
Certificate Outcomes
Courses
ORG403: Nonprofit Fundraising
ORG405: Volunteer Management
ORG433: Grant Writing
BUS401: Marketing for Nonprofits and Businesses
ORG439: Major Gifts and Planned Giving
ORG436: Nonprofit Executive Leadership & Board Development
ORG350: Mentored Ministry & Leadership
ORG201 Job & Internship Search Strategies (1 credit)
6 Courses Required
Certificate Outcomes
Degree outcomes are the overall skills and knowledge we expect you will have after successfully completing a  degree program at City Vision University.  After completing the degree, you will be able to do the following:
Fundraising Planning
. Develop a comprehensive fundraising plan for a nonprofit organization.
Development Strategies
. Develop strategies and plans to provide additional support for nonprofit fundraising efforts including marketing, grant writing, board development and major donors.
Christian Integration
. Integrate Christian principles into nonprofit and ministry development strategies.
Overview of City Vision’s Nonprofit Fundraising & Development Programs
Online Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising & Development Requirements
Job & Educational Opportunities
Admissions Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Job & Educational Opportunities
Credits in your Certificate program can count toward undergraduate degrees with City Vision
Our Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising and Development Management will prepare you to be development staff or executive leader in a nonprofit organization or ministry.
More than 70% of our graduates have worked in the nonprofit or ministry sector after graduation.
Admissions Requirements
You can
apply for free now
. You must submit the following:
A copy, scan or photo of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
A copy, scan or photo of a government-issued photo ID.
Students must enroll in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at the same time they enroll in their certificate program.
For more information read our
admissions instructions
and
standards of admission
Graduation Requirements
To graduate, students must:
Complete at least 16 credits (6 courses) from the above list
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (including City Vision credits and accepted transfer credits).
Video: How to Determine What Courses You Need to Graduate
Rex Baker, ED, Gateway Mission Testimonial from CVU's Fundraising Certificate Program
Get Credit Toward the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Certificate
Each of our courses count as 45 continuing education credits toward the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Certificate. City Vision can help you meet the following CFRE requirements:
Educational Requirements
. One City Vision course provides the 45 points toward the educational component of your CFRE application
CFRE Exam Preparation
. Our courses help you prepare for key components of the CFRE Exam.
Professional Practice
. CFRE requires that you be employed in a nonprofit fundraising-related position. Our courses will help you be more successful in that position
Self-Paced or Weekly (federal aid) Tracks
Students may select self-paced track or weekly format. Weekly format is required for federal aid.
Self-Paced Courses Offered Year-Round with 3-month sessions with start dates in: Dec, Feb, May, July, Sept
Courses center on real projects like writing a: grant, fundraising plan, major gifts plan, marketing plan, etc.
Work with faculty who serve similarly to consultants to help you improve your fundraising projects
Courses & certificates can build toward more advanced degrees (as listed below)
Which City Vision Degree is Right for You?
Associate's Degrees
Addiction Counseling
Nonprofit Management
Business Administration
Ministry & Leadership
800
Per
Course
60 credits, 2 years
$8,000 per year (full-time)
7 required core courses
Up to 45 transfer credits
Pell Grant Eligible
Bachelor's Degrees
Addiction Counseling
Nonprofit Management
Business Administration
Ministry & Leadership
800
Per
Course
120 credits, 4 years
$8,000 per year (full-time)
10-12 required core courses
Up to 90 transfer credits
Pell Grant Eligible
Popular
Master's Degrees
Addiction Counseling
Nonprofit Management
MBA
Ministry & Leadership
800
Per
Course
MBA & MSADC: 36 credits, 1.25 yr
MSNM & MACML: 30 credits, 1 year
$8,000 per year (full-time)
Up to 25% as transfer credit
Undergraduate Certificates
(6 courses, 8 months):
Addiction Counseling
Nonprofit Management
Business
Ministry
Nonprofit Fundraising
Food Service Management
Retail Management
Facilities Management
Recovery Coaching
Graduate Certificates
(4 courses, 5 months):
Addiction Counseling
Nonprofit Management
, Ministry
Nonprofit Fundraising
Why Choose City Vision's Online Nonprofit Fundraising Certificate?
Founded by Nonprofits for Nonprofits
City Vision is an accredited nonprofit Christian university.
Since 1998, we have partnered with thousands of ministries serving the poor and other nonprofits.
Nearly all our faculty have at least master's degrees, and have decades of experience in their fields.
Nearly all our faculty work at ministries, nonprofits, or Christian counseling centers.
You will learn exactly what you need to do on the job in our project-based courses.
Flexible Admissions & Transfer Credit Process
We accept any undergraduate student with a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
No standardized tests (SAT, ACT, etc.) are required to enroll.
You can transfer up to 25% of your degree from any accredited college into your certificate.
We provide the most flexible, streamlined process to get prior learning experience credits of any online Christian university.
You can transfer credits from any accredited school, in any country.
Transfer credits can be in any field (including vocational fields).
Accreditation
We are
accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission
, which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
We are an
Approved Provider for NAADAC
, which allows us to provide an educational path to addiction counseling certification in
most states
Flexible Online Courses
With our
8-week format
and
5 start dates
per year, you can study on your schedule in
100% online courses
. You
never have to travel
to a physical campus.
Our online courses are like live courses but instead of live lectures, most are recorded. Instead of live discussion, you have discussion forums with other students.
Radically Affordable so You Can Graduate Without Federal Loans
Tuition is $800 per course ($8,000/year full-time) for both undergraduate and graduate courses.
Qualifying students may use Pell grants and Veteran's benefits to help pay for school. Over 79% of our students that apply get a Pell grant.
We provide a 10% tuition scholarship to
veterans/military
rescue mission
and
Salvation Army
workers, and a $250/course tuition scholarship for students outside the US, ministry partners and ministry interns.
What Our Students are Saying:
Every single time City Vision courses came up in something that works perfectly alongside of the work I was doing...That’s the first time I’ve been in a college where it seems to fit perfectly with life.
Jeff Cook
Former Chief Program Officer
Springs Rescue Mission
What I was able to do was directly applied to my workplace...and
to my future and I feel like it's really equipped me well to serve the people God's called me to serve.
Christian Dennis
Former Education Administrator
Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley
Awards & Recognition
You Work to Transform Lives - Let Us Be a Guide
Like us, you work to transform lives. But some people you serve may appear stuck in dysfunction. You may feel over your head, like no one trained you for this. The needs seem endless, and you want to be more effective.
You know you need training to serve well, but you don’t have the time to stop working to get trained. City Vision’s flexible online programs allow you to balance work, family, and the rest of your life.
You deserve an affordable, flexible degree so you can help move your nonprofit to profound success. We want our students to know they are making a difference.
You may feel like your current position is an accident. But there are no accidents in God’s plan. Study with City Vision, clarify your calling, and be equipped to transform more lives than you’ve imagined.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get prior learning credit for experience?
To get credit for experience, first take City Vision’s Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio Development course, which uses the CAEL portfolio process. In this course you will develop a portfolio of your learning experience using a template we provide. For each subject area where you believe you should receive credit, you must identify a course at an accredited institution where you believe that you have already mastered the learning outcomes for that course. For each course that you want to receive credit for, you need to develop a specific portfolio section where you provide several pages of documentation on how you have achieved the learning outcomes of the course. A faculty member then reviews your portfolio to assess whether you have provided adequate documentation to be granted credit.
After completing this eight-week course, you will get 3 elective credits toward your degree plus the credits for any courses where you documented that you met the course outcomes through your portfolio. You have up to 3 months to submit the rest of your portfolio to get credit for additional courses where you can document learning. After the three months, you can pay $100 to have additional sections of your portfolio reviewed. Undergraduate students can receive credit for up to 25% of their degree through prior learning (30 credits for a bachelor’s or 15 credits for an associate’s) and graduate students can receive credit for up to 25% of their degree (9 credits for an MBA).
We have credit recognition partnerships with
Wheeler Mission
The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI)
Third Millennium
Saylor Academy
Vision International
Harvestime Institute
Genesis Process
and
YWAM’s University of the Nations
. If you are with an organization that would like to set up a Credit Recognition Partnership, please contact us.
Do you offer scholarships for military, rescue missions, Salvation Army or international students?
For the 2025-26 year, we offer the following tuition scholarships:
10% Tuition Scholarship:
to City Vision alumni, those affiliated with
rescue missions,
the
Salvation Army
The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI)
, CCDA,
YWAM
Adult and Teen Challenge
Third Millennium,
AmeriCorps
first responders
, organizations affiliated with the Tuition Reduction Network, as well as
active duty or reserve military students or veterans
and their spouses. After this scholarship, tuition is $720/course or $240/credit hour (for both undergraduate and graduate programs).
Scholarship Partner: $250 per 3 credit course.
We offer this scholarship to students outside of the US.
We will offer this level of scholarship to students from any organization that sends two or more students in a given year
, and meets the
partnership expectations
For these students, undergrad and masters tuition is
$550/course
($5,500/year, $183.33/credit hour) for both undergraduate and graduate tuition.
Here are the steps to request a scholarship:
New Students Only:
Fill out a
free enrollment application
. If you have already applied to the school, don’t do this again.
All Students:
Email the financial aid office at
financialaid@cityvision.edu
to say which scholarship you are requesting. There is not a form for requesting scholarships.
The financial aid office will contact you if we need documentation to verify you are eligible for a scholarship.
Be sure to read our
criteria to keep scholarships.
How can my organization partner with City Vision for scholarships or evaluation of ministry training for credit?
City Vision offers two types of
partnerships with organizations
Multi-Student Organizational Discounts
. We offer a scholarship to students from any organization that refers multiple students to City Vision in a given year. The scholarship makes tuition $5,500 ($550/course) for both undergraduate and graduate programs. If an organization does not have more than one student for at least a year, that organization loses its scholarship status. If you are with an organization that would like to receive this discount, please contact us.
Credit Mapping Partnerships.
City Vision sets up credit mapping articulation agreements with ministries that have high-quality ministry training that can be evaluated through our prior learning assessment process. We have credit mapping partnerships with
Wheeler Mission
The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI)
Third Millennium
Saylor Academy
and
YWAM’s University of the Nations
, among others, that work in conjunction with our prior learning process. If you are with an organization that would like to set up a Credit Mapping Partnership, please contact us.
Do you have a program to work with my employer’s tuition assistance or reimbursement program?
Yes. City Vision has worked with many employers that offer tuition assistance or reimbursement.
For students whose employer will pay their full tuition, we can work with you to send your tuition invoice to your employer for them to pay directly.
For students that pay their own tuition and need reimbursement with their employer, we provide the invoices and documentation you need to get reimbursed.
Why would I choose City Vision over a community college or state school?
City Vision believes we are among the best in the world in providing an extremely practical Christian education for those interested in Addiction Counseling and Nonprofit Management.
While state schools can provide information about counseling, City Vision will provide very practical counseling education with deep Christian integration. Similarly many state schools’ nonprofit management programs are often essentially generic business degrees, while we help our students integrate their Christian values in how they run nonprofit organizations and businesses.
Many community colleges or state schools will advertise “free” or nearly free tuition. Historically, for City Vision students that have applied for a Pell grant, 79% have qualified. For students that receive a full Pell grant, the grant will pay all your tuition making the cost to the student only the cost of books (which is similar to many community colleges or state schools).
Why would I choose City Vision over Christian mega-universities like Liberty or Grand Canyon?
City Vision is very focused on providing extremely practical Christian education for those interested in Addiction Counseling and Nonprofit Management. City Vision offers fewer degrees than the mega-universities, but the degrees that we do, we do very well. We like to think of ourselves similar to the family-run hardware store where staff can answer all your questions with personalized service as opposed to the big box department stores like Walmart that offer everything.
Liberty and Grand Canyon are fine schools if they are what you are looking for, but we believe we are superior for students seeking an affordable, practical education in what we teach. The following shows how we believe our strengths compare to those of Liberty and Grand Canyon:
City Vision
Liberty/Grand Canyon
Cost/Tuition
$8,000 per year
$12,198/$15,725 per year
Core Competencies
Nonprofit Management & Addiction Counseling degrees, with personalized service and practical training
Hundreds of degrees, convenience that comes from scale of 100,000+ students
History/Culture
20+ year history of serving the poor, addicted and underserved, including partnerships with rescue missions and Salvation Army
Liberty was founded by Jerry Falwell.
Grand Canyon was a for-profit school.
Speed to Degree
Extremely flexible acceptance of transfer credit and prior learning credit
Somewhat flexible transfer credit.
Student Recruitment
Primarily word of mouth and partnerships with 90+ rescue missions, Salvation Army, counseling centers, 500+ nonprofits and urban ministries
$100 million+ advertising campaigns
What graduate schools have your students been accepted into and how is City Vision's degree typically received?
We have never had a student who wasn’t accepted into a graduate program based on our degrees, although in some cases with state schools we have had to advocate for them.
Our alumni have been accepted into the following schools: Grand Canyon University, Bay Path University, Southwest Baptist Seminary, Fuller Seminary, California University of Pennsylvania, James Madison University, Liberty University, North Park University, Southern New Hampshire University, St Mary’s University of Twickenham, Trinity Bible College, Bakke Graduate School and AG Theological Seminary.
Ultimately the acceptance of any degree or transfer credit is up to the receiving institution.
What is the difference between Regional and National Accreditation and how has that affected your alumni?
City Vision is nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the US Department of Education and CHEA. The US Department of Education does not recognize a distinction between regional and national accreditation in its standards and recently stated, “The Department does not believe…that rejecting transfer credits, an application for admission to graduate school, or a request to sit for a State occupational licensing exam on the basis of the type of Department recognized accreditation is justified.” See the
US Department of Education letter on National vs. Regional Accreditation
We have heard from a number of our students that other schools (sadly, even Christian schools) use scare tactics as a part of their sales practice, and misrepresent the significance of the distinction between national and regional accreditation.
From a Christian social justice perspective, many have called the distinction between regional and national accreditation a
cartel that is a major injustice that hurts the poor
.  Having said that, there are those that still maintain this distinction, so we address their concerns in this section. This
letter from Dr. Leah Matthews
addresses some concerns about the quality of DEAC accreditation.
Functionally, our experience has been that the distinction between regional and national accreditation is primarily of importance for:
Student pursuing academic careers, since many high-end schools may require Ph.D.’s from regionally accredited schools. A very small percentage of jobs (mostly academic) require regional accreditation.  For example, a recent search of jobs in Boston showed
19 jobs
out of 65,645 total requiring regional accreditation (of which 18 were in academic institutions).
Students pursuing licensing in fields that often require a master’s degree from a regionally accredited school, such as Counseling or Social Work. It is because of this reason that City Vision does not offer master’s programs in these fields. As listed above, regional master’s programs to date have always accepted our bachelor’s degrees, but the decision is up to each individual school.
Students planning to complete their bachelor’s degree at other schools. Many state schools and some CCCU schools may not accept transfer credits from nationally accredited schools. It is up to each school on what transfer credits they accept. Based on this, for students that come to City Vision that do not plan to complete either their associate’s or bachelor’s with us, but expect to complete at a state university or CCCU school, we recommend that they first check with that school on credit transferability.
Ultimately, choosing City Vision’s national accreditation over a regionally accredited school is a question of value: you get more for your money with City Vision. If you need the “gold plating” of regional accreditation for one of the reasons described above, then it may be worth paying 2-10 times more to get a degree with regional accreditation from another school. However, because of the career choices of our students, they prefer to choose the value of City Vision rather than more expensive high-end options.
What portion of your alumni work in the nonprofit or ministry sector after graduation?
Historically, 70-80% of our alumni work in the nonprofit or ministry sector after graduation.
The others work in business with strong values that reflect strong social responsibility, Christian values and entrepreneurship.
We have had hundreds of students that have come from over 90 Gospel rescue missions.
Read Stories of City Vision Alumni
See job statistics of 200+ Alumni / students on LinkedIn
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