Growing your giving skills
A professional development course for funding professionals ready to deepen their impact.
Who is it for?
This course is designed for Funding Fundamentals graduates and other mid-career philanthropy professionals (2-5 years experience in funding roles) looking to strengthen their strategic and practical knowledge.
NOTE: Depending on experience, completion of some or all Funding Fundamentals modules may be recommended prior to enrolment.
What to expect
Over 10 modules, you’ll explore the nuances of modern philanthropy, refine your funding skills, and gain insights into emerging trends.
• Fortnightly online learning: Each module includes a 20-minute recorded video, followed by a one-hour interactive webinar to discuss and workshop key concepts.
• In-person workshop: A full-day session in Kirikiriroa Hamilton to integrate course topics, apply learning, and strengthen professional networks.
• Collaborative learning: Our sessions are designed to foster discussion, reflection, and shared insights among peers.
Course topics
• The psychology of funding – How values, mindsets and world views shape decision-making.
• Deconstructing power – Strategies for more balanced funding relationships.
• Navigating relationship transitions – Managing beginnings, endings, and the tricky stuff in between.
• Honouring Te Tiriti: Funder journeys – Why and how funders are stepping up to the challenge of engaging with Te Tiriti ō Waitiangi.
• Funding better together – Increasing intentional co-funding and collaboration.
• Aligning funding and impact – Funding effectively for different types of change and impact.
• New frontiers in funding – Exploring emerging trends shaping philanthropy.
• Participant-led topics – Deep dives into areas of shared interest.
Course details
• Ten online sessions: Tuesdays, 11 am – noon from 30 April – 10 September (during school terms)
• Optional In-person workshop: 16 September, 10 am – 4 pm, Kirikiriroa Hamilton
• Cost: $950+GST (online sessions), $250+GST (in-person workshop)
Have questions? Want to understand if GYGS is for you? Email christinahoward@outlook.co.nz
Meet your course leader
Dr Christina Howard's 30-year career spans community, government, tertiary education and philanthropy, including a decade working at the Todd Foundation, where she led their organisational transformation to a pro-active, systems change funder. In her early 20s she established a Volunteer Centre in Invercargill, and her time in government included oversight of research, evaluation and monitoring for DIA's funding programmes. Since 2020, Christina has been working as a consultant, mainly to the philanthropic sector.
“It’s exciting to be offering this next step in professional development, after getting such great feedback from people who completed Funding Fundamentals. I’m looking forward to creating space for deep engagement, learning and creative and critical thinking about funding practices."