Course overview

This highly practical, one-day workshop empowers fundraisers to use ChatGPT to design donor-first, data-led campaigns. You'll learn how to extract insights from supporter behaviour, plan smarter campaigns, and create communications that reflect what donors truly care about.

With real examples, hands-on prompting, and expert guidance, you’ll walk away with tools and templates you can use immediately.

Participants will leave with a team-ready conversation guide to help advocate for responsible, values-led AI in their organisation.

This course is designed specifically for using ChatGPT. The principles you’ll learn are practical and transferable, so you can also apply them to other Gen AI tools (for example, Microsoft Copilot). How far you take that depends on how adaptable and open minded you are in translating the ideas to different tools.

What you’ll learn

• Overlay supporter feedback with RFV and transactional donor data to identify insight-driven campaign opportunities
• Use ChatGPT to design segmented donor journeys and campaign plans that reflect donor behaviours and motivations
• Create emotionally resonant messaging using simulated donor empathy and feedback analysis
• Apply AI ethically and intentionally, with an understanding of risks, limitations, and values-based communication
• Confidently advocate for AI investment as a capacity-building tool within their organisation

Participants should use their own ChatGPT accounts during the session and will leave with saved prompts, completed campaign plan, and messaging templates stored in their own chat history for ongoing use and adaptation.

Targeted skills

1. Using AI to extract insight from donor data
2. Designing a campaign plan, segmentation and testing using ChatGPT
3. Rewriting messaging across multiple supporter touchpoints
4. Analysing feedback to generate supporter-informed content
5. Discussing failure scenarios and ethical decision-making using a real case study
6. 10x Visioning Exercise: exploring transformational AI applications

Participant level

All curious and committed fundraisers are welcome to learn about Artificial intelligence.

Who is this course for?

Junior to Senior level fundraisers, campaign and digital leads, and donor engagement professionals. This course is ideal for professionals responsible for campaign planning and execution, content development, donor journeys or fundraising performance. Understanding of most common fundraising programs and campaigns is essential (you’d need to know what RG, P2P, RFV or an Appeal Letter, mean)

Prerequisite knowledge

No previous knowledge of Chat-GPT is required, but access to a paid account for data protection is encouraged. You will need access to Miro for this course.

Delivery

1 x 6hr session online via Zoom.

• You will need Miro.  This can be a free account.
• You will need Zoom
• You will need a paid Chat GPT account to attend this course

Meet the facilitator

Click here to read Maisa Lopes Gomes' bio.

Guidelines for enrolment

1. Note: The FIA website provides access to both the Member Portal and the Learning Hub. These have separate logins — your username and password may be different for each.
2. New Staff Member: Please ask your organisation’s nominated contact to add you to the Member Portal or email members@fia.org.au. Your details will sync within two hours.
3. To Access the Learning Hub: Once you've been added to the Member Portal, click “Reset Password / New Staff Login” to activate your Learning Hub access.

If you require assistance, please email training@fia.org.au.

CFRE

Full participation in Chat-GPT for Fundraisers is applicable for up to 2.5 continuing education points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

FIA Code

This course relates to the following aspects of the FIA Code of Conduct:

• FIA Code 4 Conduct towards Donors
• Principle: “Treat donors and beneficiaries with respect and dignity.”
• Activity: Review and rewrite an appeal using ChatGPT to test for emotional tone, dignity, and plain language — discuss ethical considerations in small groups.

Course overview

This course explores the adoption of AI in charities, focusing on its potential to revolutionise operations, improve efficiency, and deepen relationships with supporters. Drawing on public research and insights into public perceptions of AI, the session will provide a comprehensive understanding of how people view AI’s role in the charity sector. Participants will hear perspectives from a CEO, organisation expert, and fundraisers, gaining valuable insights into real-world applications, public trust, and the ethical implications of AI in charity operations.

What you'll learn

By the end of this session, you will:

• Understand how AI is reshaping operations, supporter engagement, and fundraising strategies within charities
• Gain practical insights from sector leaders on AI adoption in diverse charity contexts
• Be aware of key organisational and ethical considerations

Key topics and speakers

• Overview of AI trends in the charity sector - Karen Armstrong
• Executive insights from a CEO’s perspective - Dale Cleaver - Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
• Panel discussion with charity sector leaders on AI applications - Lyrian Fleming-Parsley - Cancer Council Victoria and Kristina Warne - The Smith Family
• Organisational and ethical implications of AI - Gavin Coopey - More Strategic and Angela Dunbar - Australian Red Cross

Who is this course for?

• Charity leaders, fundraising managers, and professionals
• Individuals interested in applying AI responsibly within their organisations
• Entry to intermediate-level participants looking to enhance their strategic understanding of AI

Delivery

1 x 3hr session via Zoom.

Materials

• Case studies on AI applications in the charity sector
• Recommended resources for further exploration

This course won't explore 

In-depth technical tutorials on Artificial intelligence tools.

Prerequisite knowledge

Basic knowledge of charity operations, fundraising, or supporter engagement principles

Facilitator bios

Read Karen Armstrong's bio

Read Gavin Coopey's bio

Panel bios

Our experienced panel brings diverse insights from across the sector:

• Dale Cleaver
• Lyrian Fleming-Parsley
• Kristina Warne
• Angela Dunbar

Guidelines for enrollment

Note: The FIA website provides access to both the Member Portal and the Learning Hub. These have separate logins — your username and password may be different for each.

New Staff Member

Please ask your organisation’s nominated contact to add you to the Member Portal or email members@fia.org.au. Your details will sync within two hours.

To Access the Learning Hub

Once you've been added to the Member Portal, click “Reset Password / New Staff Login” to activate your Learning Hub access.

If you require assistance, please email training@fia.org.au.

CFRE

Full participation in Charity Brand Strategy is applicable for up to 1.5 continuing education points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

FIA Code

This course relates to the following aspects of the FIA Code of Conduct:

FIA Code 4. Conduct towards donors.

Course overview

From exclusive gala balls to counting steps.

Virtual events are one of the forces driving the democratisation of philanthropy, a movement to decolonise fundraising by breaking down traditional barriers and giving everyone a chance to contribute.

The past 15 years have been transformative for digital, social giving and virtual events. This has forced a change in the charity ‘mailbox’ mentality. Moving away from the overreliance on the predictable, traditional Direct Marketing programs – to the more flexible, agile, scalable, and risky landscape of community events in digital.

Digital, social media, P2P platforms, data, tracking cookies, and AI have brought new and extraordinary ways to expand charities’ reach by tapping into supporters’ networks. These new and emerging technologies enhance multi-channel experiences, grow productivity, and connect supporters of similar values with the deep level of involvement only charity events can offer.

This one-day course aims to help charity workers of all seniority improve their virtual events and digital expertise and feel more engaged with this revolutionary change.

What you'll learn

• Understand the basics of Virtual Fundraising via Streaming, social media and P2P.
• Learn the basics and foundations of Digital, Data, User Journeys, Channels and AI in the Virtual Events context.
• Workshop on how Digital Experiences can be used to create memorable moments & level up involvement for existing and new supporters via Virtual Events.
• Learn how digital-first planning, KPI setting, and tracking can help your charity achieve its best for your mission cost-efficiently with virtual events.

Who is this course for?

Entry-level from a Digital and virtual Events knowledge point, all levels of Fundraising and Marketing expertise are welcome to join.

• Charity workers who would like to kick-start their Virtual Events.
• Fundraisers and Marketers of all levels of seniority who would like to skill up in Digital Fundraising for Events.
• Professionals of all areas in Fundraising who would like to become more comfortable with digital channels, data, technology, AI, tracking and digital experiences in the context of Virtual Events.

Delivery

1 x 6hr session via Zoom.

Online workshop session with digital collaboration whiteboard Miro, using AI tools and working group for ideation.

Please sign up and complete the two-factor authentication with Miro before the course day.

Meet the facilitator

Read Maisa Lopes Gomes bio (PDF).

Guidelines for enrolment

1. Make sure you have a login for the FIA Learning Hub. Click "Sign In" or "Forgot Password" if needed.
2. You can enrol a staff member if they already have a login.
3. If you require assistance, please email training@fia.org.au.

CFRE

Full participation in Digital Fundraising Essentials is applicable for up to 5 continuing education points in Category 1. B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

FIA Code

This course relates to the following aspects of the FIA Code of Conduct:

FIA Code 3.0 Ethical conduct.

Course overview

This comprehensive program delivered as 2 x 4hr sessions is designed to equip you with a deep understanding of data privacy regulations and the processes and practices that help ensure compliance and reduce risk, covering key aspects of privacy, including the Privacy Act in Australia and the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the European Union. It also delves into data management processes and practices aimed at minimising privacy risks and ensuring compliance with data protection laws. By the end of this course, you will be well-prepared to navigate the complex landscape of data privacy, safeguard sensitive information, and adopt best practices for data management in an increasingly interconnected world.

Why is this important?

In 2023, the government responded to the review of the Privacy Act, flagging changes that would impact all organisations that collect, store, and use personal information. Driving the change is an overwhelming desire for individuals to have greater control over their information. In a recent survey 83% wanted more control and choice over how their personal information is collected and used. With recent high-profile data breaches in our sector, it has never been more important to understand the privacy regulations and how best to comply.

What you'll learn

Session 1 – Understanding the regulations

• Defining personal & sensitive information
• Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• California Consumer Privacy Act
• Notifiable data breach scheme
• Proposed changes to the Privacy Act

Session 2 – Complying with regulation

• Mapping flow of personal information
• Data governance & classification
• Privacy impact assessments
• Simple approach to security
• Privacy Policy & notifications
• Staff training
• Privacy Data Management framework

Who is this for?

Anyone who needs to understand the regulations governing the use of personal information and how to minimise the risk of a breach of those regulations, but who is not necessarily a data 'technician'.

• Executive leaders who need to understand the potential risks
• Data managers responsible for protecting personal information
• Operations team using and managing personal information
• IT teams responsible for preventing unwanted access to personal information

Delivery

2 x 4hr sessions via Zoom

Meet the facilitator

Read Richard Harris's bio (PDF).

Guidelines for enrolment

1. Make sure you have a login for the FIA Learning Hub. Click "Sign In" or "Forgot Password" if needed.
2. You can enrol a staff member if they already have a login.
3. If you require assistance, please email training@fia.org.au.

CFRE

Full participation in Data-Privacy for Fundraisers is applicable for up to 7 continuing education points in Category 1. B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

FIA Code

This course relates to the following aspects of the FIA Code of Conduct:

FIA Code 3.0 Ethical conduct.

Course overview

Creating an effective data management framework is essential for organisations that now rely on data as their primary asset for fundraising and creating insight to help improve operations.

Poor-quality data and a lack of proper governance can result in poor outcomes and increase risk. Complying with legislation to ensure the organisation can use data while protecting it from risk is an organisational-wide requirement.

This course aims to help those responsible for managing data understand the fundamental components of a data management framework so that they can build a plan that the whole organisation can understand and implement.

What you'll learn

• Understand the key components of a data management framework
• Be able to create a data management plan that the entire organisation can understand
• Be able to identify areas of key risk to the organisation
• The value of data – how data can be used to improve key organisational outcomes:
• Risk – where there is a risk to the organisation for poorly managed data
• Components of a Data Management Framework
• DataOps function
• Low-impact data management

Key Topics

• Data Strategy
• Data Governance
• Data Quality
• Data Operations
• Technology

Delivery

2 x 4hr sessions via Zoom.

This course won't explore

• Specific technologies
• Privacy legislation

Prerequisite

Familiar with everyday uses of data

Meet the facilitator

Read Richard Harris's bio (PDF).

Guidelines for enrolment

Note: The FIA website provides access to both the Member Portal and the Learning Hub. These have separate logins — your username and password may be different for each.

New Staff Member

Please ask your organisation’s nominated contact to add you to the Member Portal or email members@fia.org.au. Your details will sync within two hours.

To Access the Learning Hub

Once you've been added to the Member Portal, click “Reset Password / New Staff Login” to activate your Learning Hub access.

If you require assistance, please email training@fia.org.au.

CFRE

Full participation in Building Data Frameworks is applicable for up to 7 continuing education points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

FIA Code

This course relates to the following aspects of the FIA Code of Conduct:

Course Overview

Fundraising Evolution: From Mailboxes to Machine Learning

Chat GPT gave me that line… Well, not quite that line, but it was close!

The art of fundraising remains unchanged. Charities must connect supporters with their mission and be true to their word. Building meaningful relationships with donors will always be crucial.. Ethical and efficient fundraising is still fundamental to engaging with younger and older cohorts of donors. The revolutionary change is how well charities can blend traditional and new ways of building relationships with their supporters and allies.

Digital, data, tracking cookies and AI have brought new and extraordinary ways to expand a charity’s reach, enhance multi-channel experiences, grow productivity, and connect supporters of similar values around the world. But all these aspects of 'digital' can sound daunting.

This one-day course aims to help fundraisers of all levels and seniority improve their digital expertise and become more engaged with digital fundraising.

Watch Maisa Lopes Gomes explain the Digital Fundraising in Action course

The goal is for participants to:

• Understand the basic foundations of Digital, Data, Tracking Cookies, Channels and AI in the Fundraising context.
• Discuss how these can be used to create memorable experiences for your supporters and amplify the impact of their mission.
• Learn how digital-first planning, KPI setting & tracking can lead your charity to achieve its strategic goals.
• Workshop ways to enhance your charity’s donor recruitment and retention lifecycle experiences across multiple fundraising programs.

What you'll learn

• Understand the basic foundations of Digital, Data, Tracking Cookies, Channels and AI in the Fundraising context.
• How those can be used to create memorable experiences for your supporters and amplify the impact of their mission.
• Learn how digital-first planning, KPI setting & tracking can lead your charity to achieve their strategic goals.
• Workshop ways to enhance your charity’s donor recruitment and retention lifecycle experiences across multiple fundraising programs.

Who is this course for?

At the entry level, from a digital knowledge point of view, all fundraising and marketing expertise levels are welcome to join.

• Charity workers who would like to kick-start their Digital Strategy.
• Fundraisers and marketers of all levels of seniority who would like to increase their skills in digital fundraising.

Professionals in all areas of Fundraising who would like to become more comfortable with digital channels, data, technology, AI, tracking, and digital experiences.

Delivery

1 x 6hr session via Zoom.

Online workshop session with digital collaboration whiteboard Miro, using AI tools and working group for ideation.

Please sign up and complete the two-factor authentication with Miro before the course day.

Meet the facilitator

Read Maisa Lopes Gomes bio (PDF).

Guidelines for enrolment

Make sure you have a login for the FIA Learning Hub. Click "Sign In" or "Forgot Password" if needed.

You can enrol a staff member if they already have a login.

If you require assistance, please email training@fia.org.au.

CFRE

Full participation in Digital Fundraising Essentials is applicable for up to 2.25 continuing education points in Category 1. B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

FIA Code

This course relates to the following aspects of the FIA Code of Conduct:

FIA Code 3.0 Ethical conduct.

Course Overview

CRM systems are more than databases—they are the backbone of a successful fundraising strategy. This course provides fundraisers with the skills to align CRM capabilities with organisational strategy, harness donor data for segmentation and journeys, and use insights to drive decisions. Delivered in two half-day online sessions, it balances strategy and execution: from designing data-driven journeys and automations, to choosing, integrating, and managing CRM platforms.

The program equips fundraisers with both strategic understanding and practical tools to unlock the value of CRM systems and donor data. Participants will gain confidence in aligning CRM with fundraising goals, applying segmentation frameworks, designing automated journeys, and making evidence-based decisions through dashboards and reports.

What you'll learn

• Align CRM capabilities with organisational fundraising strategy.
• Apply segmentation frameworks and donor insights to shape campaign design.
• Conceptualise automation flows that enhance acquisition and retention journeys.
• Evaluate CRM platform options using structured selection criteria.
• Map integrations between CRM and Finance, Marketing, and other systems.
• Plan and manage a CRM migration, including data cleansing and change management.
• Establish ongoing data governance practices.
• Interpret dashboards and reports to translate data into fundraising actions.

Targeted skills

CRM strategy; Donor segmentation; Journey mapping; Data-driven decision making; Data governance; Platform evaluation

Participant level

Intermediate–Advanced

Who is this course for?

Fundraising and marketing managers, donor engagement specialists, database managers, and fundraisers responsible for strategy, donor acquisition, or retention who want to make better use of CRM and data insights.

Prerequisite knowledge

Basic familiarity with donor data and CRM use in fundraising (not necessarily advanced technical knowledge).

This course won’t explore

This course will not provide hands-on training in specific CRM platforms or system configurations. Platform-specific technical setup is out of scope.

Delivery

2 x 4hr sessions via Zoom,

Meet the facilitator

Read Mike Zeederberg's bio (PDF).

Guidelines for enrollment

Make sure you have a login for the FIA Learning Hub. Click "Sign In" or "Forgot Password" if needed.

You can enrol a staff member if they already have a login.

If you require assistance, please email training@fia.org.au.

CFRE

Full participation in Fundraising Success with CRM and Data Insights is applicable for up to 2.75 continuing education points in Category 1. B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.