Editor’s Note:  As we begin 2026 by sharing this timely look at some ways philanthropy professionals can grow and learn in the field, we’re pleased to share that its author, our Bill Powers, embodies exactly that kind of advancement. Bill, who joined The Munshine Group a little more than three years ago, has been newly promoted to The Munshine Group’s Director of Research, a reflection of his tremendous value to our firm and all our clients. We’re sure you’ll see some of the depth of Bill’s knowledge and experience in this article.

New Year’s resolutions come in many forms. If you’re in the philanthropy field, maybe advancing your knowledge and career are on your 2026 to-do list.

As working professionals, how do we make the most of the resources that are available to support growth and learning in the nonprofit sector? There are conferences, workshops, associations, as well as professional organizations dedicated to specific fundraising topics including prospect development, analytics and trends. As the current President of Apra-NY, I continually see the value in such professional development organizations, both to members ourselves and the nonprofits we serve. 

There are also mentors and volunteers in the industry willing to share their expertise with the next generation of fundraisers. But what do you do if you want to dig deeper, to understand more or remind yourself why you became involved in the nonprofit sector in the first place? One way is to pursue a certificate or degree program in philanthropy or fundraising. While the prospect of juggling a full-time job along with going back to school can sound daunting, there are many programs that offer the flexibility you need to complete coursework.

Several New Jersey-area programs offer that deeper dive into the field of philanthropy. 

• Montclair State University: Interdisciplinary School for Social Transformation and Social Impact Certificate 
• Rutgers University: Nonprofit management certificate through the School of Public Affairs and Administration, as well as its Master of Public Administration program. 
• Seton Hall University: Graduate certificate in nonprofit management through the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, as well as an MPA program
• William Paterson University: Public policy degrees through the Department of Political Science, Legal and Urban Studies, with a focus on the nonprofit sector 
• New Jersey City University: Courses in grant writing and nonprofit management through its Adult and Continuing Education division 

Another option is earning the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation, a leading certification for fundraisers.  

I’ve not only researched continuing education for working philanthropy professionals, I’ve lived it.

As a student in the program at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University (formerly the Center on Philanthropy), I took four years, while working full time for the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, to earn the degree. HSS offered a generous tuition reimbursement program, with the stipulation that the degree had to be related to your work. At that time, the Lilly program was a hybrid model, requiring a trip to Indianapolis every summer to complete two weeks of intensive daily on-campus classes. What made this program so valuable was that all of the students were working adults, some with decades of experience, having led major fundraising operations, and others who were students working at smaller organizations eager to learn more about the field. The coursework was not just figuring out how to meet your annual fundraising goal, but gaining an understanding of donors’ motivations, and the various ways they give.

In all, a degree or certificate in philanthropy can help with fundraising by focusing on:

1. Perspective: It gives you a broader picture of the field and can take you out of your comfort zone forcing you to focus on larger more complex issues. 
2. Skill Development: If you are not familiar with annual funds, capital campaigns, how to make a solicitation or write a grant proposal, a philanthropy-focused degree can fill in experience gaps. 
3. Strategic Thinking: Most of what happens in fundraising is the result of planning. There are of course, rare situations where a donor calls an organization out of the blue because they like what they are doing and want to support their work, but most organizations receive support because they have demonstrated their need and value to donors. 
4. Leadership Development: It can help develop skills for leading a nonprofit organization or board, providing tools and guidance for such management.  
5. Research: A significant benefit is keeping up to date on the field. It is important to understand the landscape in order to maintain a competitive edge when it comes to techniques, trends and best practices. 

Whether you are new to fundraising or a seasoned professional, it’s worth considering becoming more in tune with philanthropy through a certification or degree program. The end result is that the knowledge you gain through these programs will help you serve more people.