Transformational Philanthropy Institute launches 36-hour certificate for nonprofit leaders

By AI, Created 8:30 PM UTC, May 22, 2026, /AGP/ – Transformational Philanthropy Institute has launched a 36-hour online Executive Certificate in Transformational Philanthropy for nonprofit leaders worldwide. The program is designed to help fundraising teams move from transactional asks to longer-term donor relationships and mission-driven giving.

Why it matters: - The Executive Certificate in Transformational Philanthropy is aimed at nonprofit leaders who want to improve donor loyalty, organizational culture and long-term giving. - The program reflects a broader push in the social sector to move beyond one-time fundraising tactics and toward relationship-based philanthropy. - The certificate is approved for 36 CFRE Education Points, which gives it professional-development value for fundraising leaders.

What happened: - Transformational Philanthropy Institute announced the launch of the Executive Certificate in Transformational Philanthropy, or ECTP, on May 22, 2026. - The 36-hour self-directed online program is designed for senior and mid-level nonprofit leaders, chief development officers, major gift officers, campaign directors, consultants and board members. - The program is available worldwide. - More information is available at the program site.

The details: - ECTP is built as six sequential sessions, with each session taking about six hours to complete. - The curriculum draws on scholarship from Jen Shang and Adrian Sargeant of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy, Paul Schervish of Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, Jim Langley of Langley Innovations, Jason Lewis of Seed, and Dr. Sanjay Bindra of the GIVE Study and GOSUMEC Foundation USA. - Mark Dobosz developed the curriculum. - Dobosz wrote Beyond the Ask (2025) and Beyond the Culture (2026), the two books in the Transactional to Transformational Philanthropy Series. - Dobosz has more than 40 years of fundraising experience and says he has raised more than $100 million across independent schools, healthcare, senior living and foundation work. - The program covers six areas: philosophical and theoretical foundations, donor psychology and emotional alignment, organizational culture and readiness, major gift strategy and portfolio management, planned giving, and leadership and communication. - Three free diagnostic tools are integrated into the curriculum and will remain permanently free. - donorassess.org measures donor emotional alignment across six dimensions: mission alignment, values resonance, personal connection, visionary alignment, community identity and emotional investment. - transactandtransform.org measures organizational readiness for transformational philanthropy. - partnerassess.net is a partnership and engagement alignment tool for board members, volunteers and institutional partners. - Required texts include Beyond the Ask, Beyond the Culture and Meaningful Philanthropy: The Person Behind the Giving by Shang and Sargeant. - Participants must complete all six sessions and pass a final exam to earn the Executive Certificate in Transformational Philanthropy.

Between the lines: - The program’s core argument is that effective fundraising depends less on solicitation mechanics and more on donor identity, organizational culture and mission alignment. - The curriculum positions transformational philanthropy as a response to what Dobosz sees as overreliance on transactional fundraising. - Endorsements from field leaders suggest the certificate is trying to establish itself as both an academic and practical framework for nonprofit professionals. - Jim Langley said the program could help distinguish transformational practitioners from tactical and transactional fundraisers as philanthropic participation declines. - Dr. Sanjay Bindra said the curriculum offers nonprofit leaders a lens for building trust, belonging and long-term community participation in giving. - Jason Lewis said the sector is at an inflection point and that the ECTP provides a framework and tools for shifting from transactions to relationships. - Paul Schervish offered a brief note of thanks and recognition in response to the launch.

What’s next: - Enrolled participants will work through the six-session program, then take the final examination for the credential. - TPI will continue to publish research-based thought leadership and maintain its three diagnostic platforms. - The certificate adds a formal training path for nonprofit professionals who want to adopt the transactional-to-transformational philanthropy framework.

The bottom line: - TPI is packaging a relationship-centered fundraising philosophy into a credentialed online program, betting that nonprofit leaders want more tools to deepen donor commitment rather than just raise the next gift.