Skill-Building Courses

Strengthen the Skills That Turn Donor Interest Into Sustained Commitment

You’ve built the foundation. Now it’s time to strengthen the specific skills that move donors — and your program — forward.

Veritus Group Academy’s skill-building courses are focused learning experiences designed to deepen your expertise in critical areas of donor engagement.

While these self-paced courses can stand alone, they’re a natural next step after certification — for fundraisers and leaders interested in applying The Veritus Way™ with even greater precision and impact.

Making Effective Donor Asks

Ask with clarity, confidence, and alignment.

Successful donor asks don’t rely on scripts or pressure. Instead, they’re built on trust, preparation, and a clear understanding of what the donor cares about most.

With this course you’ll be able to:

Prepare for donor conversations that lead to an organic ask
Frame opportunities in a way that feels authentic and donor-centered
Make clear, confident asks in a way that strengthens (and doesn’t damage) the relationship

This is ideal for fundraisers who understand the Veritus system and want to feel more grounded and effective when it’s time to invite a donor to give.

Learn more

The Economics of the Major Gifts Pipeline

Implement what actually drives sustainable revenue.

Most fundraising problems aren’t caused by underperformance. They come from a lack of clarity about how the pipeline truly works.

This course helps you step back and see the full economic picture by exploring:

How donors move (or stall) through the pipeline
Where revenue is commonly lost, and why
How structure, staffing, and expectations impact long-term results

Designed for fundraisers and leaders alike, this course brings more informed decisions about investment, strategy, and growth.

Learn More

Planned Giving Principles for Every Fundraiser’s Success

Learn the mindset of planned giving success.

You don’t need to be a planned giving expert to talk meaningfully with donors about long-term impact. But you do need to understand the principles.

This course equips you to:

Recognize planned giving opportunities within everyday donor conversations
Collaborate more effectively across departments
Serve donors who are thinking beyond a single gift

Especially valuable for Planned Giving Officers, Major Gift Officers, and Fundraising Leaders, this course helps you support donors whose generosity is rooted in legacy and long-term vision.

Learn More

“I loved the Making Effective Donor Asks course! I recently implemented the strategy of approaching a donor to ask from the standpoint of the need first and it worked wonders. I had a donor solicitation meeting and came away with the gift the same day.”

Marie Miller

Senior Development Officer

St. Lawrence College

“Prior to working with Veritus, I would say we "dabbled" in planned giving. Because of a strong commitment to our mission by our donors, we were very successful in securing legacy gifts despite ourselves. But the Veritus course in Planned Giving helped us to get serious about it and put processes into place to cultivate potential legacy donors, steward those who have already made a gift commitment, and ultimately solicit new planned gifts.”

Cathie Wright
Vice President of Donor Relations
Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester

“Asking for gifts used to intimidate me. I knew I had to do it, but it never felt right. I had done some coaching and training before but nothing really stuck. But since I started the Veritus course on Making Effective Donor Asks, I’ve made a full 360. I can’t wait to ask a supporter if they're interested in speaking with me, and then asking permission while we talk. It’s so natural to connect this way, and so enjoyable. Thank you.”

Lauren Brandt Schloss
Executive Director
USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts