Tackling Finance in the Social Sector: From Fundraising to Impact Investment
4-week online course (4-10 hours/week) From May 7 to May 28, 2026 Live sessions on Thursdays 9:00 AM ESTTackling Finance in the Social Sector: From Fundraising to Impact Investment
4-WEEK ONLINE COURSE (4-10 hours/week) From May 7 to May 28, 2026 Live sessions on Thursdays 9:00 AM EST
Raising funds for social impact work is both an art and a science. This course guides you step-by-step through crafting compelling proposals and building the relationships that turn ideas into funded, sustainable projects. We’ll focus on practical tools, frameworks, and mindsets used by successful fundraisers and social entrepreneurs, so you can approach funding with confidence and clarity.
Over four weeks, you’ll learn to tell your story, make the case for your project, identify the right funders, and steward relationships for long-term impact. Each session balances crafting a compelling proposal with finding and connecting to the right funders, giving you actionable skills you can apply immediately.
“It may seem something simple. It’s just semantics: donation vs. investment. But I think to a millennial, who’s grown up in a very different world, one that’s more participatory because of the digital tools that we have, to them they want to feel like they’re making an investment. Not just that they’re investing their capital, but they’re investing emotionally.”
– Amy Webb, Author and Founder of the Future Today Institute
Target Audience:
This course is designed for innovators, social entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and professionals who want to fund impactful projects, programs, or products. Prior fundraising experience is not required, but curiosity and commitment to creating change are essential. We also invite you to think of a specific project that you want to fundraise for as you join this course.
Course Objectives
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Craft proposals that clearly articulate impact, assets, and potential.
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Identify, approach, and build relationships with funders who align with your mission.
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Develop financial and project planning skills that underpin strong funding requests.
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Build mindsets and strategies for long-term stewardship, reporting, and relationship growth.
Course Format
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Fully online with a mix of readings, video presentations, assignments, and discussion forums.
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Each week includes a hands-on assignment aligned with the learning objectives.
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Live webinars for Q&A, peer discussion, and “hot seat” practice sessions.
What to expect: Course skills and Benefits
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A Financial Plan
A financial plan and budget projection for your new or growing organization that delivers social good.
Certificate
You’ll get a certificate from the Centre for Executive Education within the United Nations established University for Peace.
Practical Tools
Dominate organizational development, technology, teamwork and agile leadership skills and hacks for fundraising excellence.
Personalized Feedback
Close communication with your course facilitator to gain crucial, personalized feedback.
Marketing Materials
Leave with marketing materials to sell your ideas to social good purchasers.
Dynamic Learning
You’ll get an engaging, dynamic experience that allows you to connect and learn by doing.
Skills and Mindset
Obtain the skills and mindset to cultivate, grow and retain strong relationships with funders, investors and partners.
International Network
Deep relationships with a tight-knit, international network of alumni.
This course counts as part of the Diploma in Social Innovation or Global Leadership Diploma.
- Crafting the Intro – Story, Mission, and Assets/Traction
- How to Find Funders
- Problem Statement – Why Your Work Matters
- Building Funder Relationships
- Project Request and Budget
- Making the Ask
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
- Reporting and Stewardship
- Deliverable: 3-5 page executive summary / case for support of your project, serving as your fundraising pitch. Include mission, problem, solution, budget, and impact.
Practical Exercise (Optional):
- Hot seat interview to practice a 1:1 funder meeting. Receive peer and facilitator feedback. This will be held after the final session and is optional for you to practice a 1:1 funder meeting.
Abhinav Khanal is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Bean Voyage, a non-profit social enterprise that provides training and market access to smallholder women coffee producers in Costa Rica and Nepal.
He is also the Co-Founder & Chief Thought Officer at Little Big Fund, which provides knowledge, networks, and micro-grants to early-stage non-profit leaders around the world. He is a Cordes Fellow, Resolution Fellow, Trust Scholar, Watson Scholar, and a One Young World Ambassador. Abhinav has a B.A in Political Science from Earlham College.
Andrea Parra Nuñez is the Head of Operations at Little Big Fund. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Amsterdam and a Master’s of Science in Management and Leadership from Edhec Business School in France. She currently serves as Head of Operations and Partnerships at Little Big Fund, an organization that supports early-stage social entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and microgrants.
At Little Big Fund, Andrea manages operations and logistics for the fellowship program, co-facilitates workshops for over 50 social impact leaders each year, and leads communications efforts including social media growth, newsletters, and public outreach. She also serves as a Mentor with The Resolution Project, guiding young changemakers as they design and launch their ventures. Andrea has lived and worked in six countries, bringing an international perspective, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills to her work.
This is a 4-week online course runs from May 7 to May 28, 2026. Optional live zoom sessions are held on Thursdays at 9:00 AM EST. This course runs two to three times a year, so if this isn’t the right date for you, ask us about future offerings at centre@upeace.org.
$650 tuition rate for the 4-week online course. A certificate is awarded upon completion by the Centre for Executive Education at the University for Peace, established by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Have a question? Contact us at centre@upeace.org with inquiries or to set up a phone call, or visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.
