Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
This course explores different approaches to fundraising for arts organizations, including techniques for identifying and cultivating a variety of potential funders. To help you learn about important tools and strategies for raising funds, you will create your own fundraising plan for a real or imagined arts organization. As the course progresses, you will complete multiple smaller projects, which provide a framework for addressing each line item that typically appears in a contributed revenue budget for the arts.
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
You will be required to use basic functions of Microsoft Excel in this course. If you need guidance on this topic, I recommend starting with the Excel Essentials training from LinkedIn Learning. (Note: To access the training, you will need to log in with your OU 4×4 and password.)
It is assumed that you will have attended live arts programming before. If you haven't, I encourage you to identify an event to attend before or during the term to help you to contextualize your learning.
Course Materials
-
Laura Frederick’s The A$K: How to Ask for Support for your Nonprofit Cause
- Use the link above to access this eBook for free through the OU Libraries website (you will need to log in using your OU 4×4 and password)
-
Microsoft Excel
- Use the link above to download Microsoft Office for free through the OU IT website (you will need to log in using your OU 4×4 and password)
- Additional resources will be provided in the weekly modules in Canvas
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Discussions | Each week, you will post one original response to the prompt and reply to at least one peer. | 30% |
| Term & Concept Checks | Weekly quizzes cover content from that week's resources. Quiz question formats include multiple choice, multi-select, matching, and ordering. | 20% |
| Fundraising Plan | This will consist of weekly assignments, which lead up to a final project. | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Module Overviews
Module Overviews provide context for the topic at hand, preparing you for what you are about to learn. A typical Overview page includes introductory text, learning objectives that outline what you will gain throughout the module, and a checklist of what you will need to do during the week.
Live Sessions
In our Live Sessions, we will:
- Discuss how course material is relevant to work in the real world
- Analyze case studies regarding the topics of the week
- Identify important points and considerations for the module's assessments (especially the project)
- Go over Q&A
Although attendance is not required, participating in Live Sessions (or watching the recordings) will be essential to your success with the major project and other course elements.
Resources
Each week, you will have access to a variety of resources from blogs, textbooks, and videos. These resources will provide the foundational knowledge you need to successfully complete that week's activities and participate in the Live Session.
Term & Concept Checks
Term and Concept Checks are designed to ensure you've gained the foundational knowledge you need to successfully participate in discussion boards and complete your project work. This auto-graded quiz 1) holds you accountable for reviewing course resources and 2) helps you to gauge your progress in mastering key concepts and terms.
Project Work
You will complete 6 assignments that will be combined into a fundraising plan for a real or imagined arts organization. This gives you the chance to apply what you've learned to real-world scenarios and create your own work. It will also provide opportunities for receiving feedback from your instructor and peers. Your final project submission allows your instructor to assess your mastery of the course content, and it can be used as a part of your program portfolio.
Discussion Boards
The Discussion Boards allow you to demonstrate your ability to explain and discuss course content and applications in depth. I hope that you will add substantively to the discussion by sharing your own experiences and resources.
Takeaways
Each module will contain a takeaway graphic or text, summarizing key points you need to remember when applying this knowledge later in your work environment.
Course Policies
Communication
You may contact me for any reason at any time via email at Emily.R.Comisar-1@ou.edu. I will reply within 24 hours Monday through Friday, or within 48 hours over the weekend.
In addition to being your instructor in this course, I am also your peer in the arts management field. Likewise, in addition to being classmates, you are all also one another’s colleagues. Please address me by my first name (Emily), and let me know if you are at all uncomfortable with me doing the same. I hope that this course will be both professional and fun. All Live Sessions will be conversational and informal, creative and thought-provoking, and everyone will be encouraged to participate.
Feedback
Discussion board posts are due on Sundays, and you can expect to receive feedback and grades on your discussion board posts by the following Wednesday. For project work, you can expect feedback and grades on your project work within seven calendar days after the deadline.
Late Policy
Late work will be accepted only with prior instructor approval. As in any work setting, I understand that sometimes things come up, but when they do, I expect you to communicate with me in a timely fashion. Work completed late without prior notification or approval will receive a grade reduction of 5 percent for every 24 hours of lateness.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
Anyone who has been impacted by gender-based violence, including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual assault, deserves access to resources so that they are supported personally and academically.
The University of Oklahoma is committed to offering resources to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or another confidential resource (see "Can I make an anonymous report?").
You may also choose to report gender-based violence and discrimination through other means, including by contacting the Institutional Equity Office (ieo@ou.edu, 405-325-3546) or the police (911).
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in class discussions, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails, and during Student/Office Hours.
For more information, please visit the Institutional Equity Office.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits
- Assist those that may need help
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone that may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
OU Fire Safety on Campus Video
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|