What is Advancement Resources?

Updated

Advancement Resources is a professional education and consulting organization focused on philanthropy. Its work centers on research-based training, implementation services, strategic event planning, and what it describes as breakthrough thinking in fundraising. It serves education institutions, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits. The organization has been acquired by Huron, a partner to education institutions and healthcare and nonprofit organizations, and continues to operate under the Advancement Resources name.

Who it serves

Advancement Resources works with organizations that depend on philanthropic support, including:

  • Education institutions
  • Healthcare organizations
  • Nonprofit organizations

Its stated focus is on building fundraising capability across an organization, not just training individual fundraisers.

Core programs and services

The organization offers a mix of e-learning, workshops, coaching, and on-site implementation support. The main offerings described on its site are:

Program or service What it covers
Launch: Essential Skills for Success in Fundraising An on-demand e-learning program for new frontline fundraisers, with 18 classes covering donor-centric fundraising basics, professional qualities such as resilience, curiosity, and time management, and targeted practice on getting meetings, engaging donors, and deepening engagement
The Art and Science of Donor Development Adapting conversations to different donor personalities, turning questions into fundraising opportunities, and measuring and communicating the return on philanthropic investment
Clinician Engagement Implementation tools and onsite support, phased program design built for sustainability, and scalable solutions for organizations of every size
Professional Fundraising for Deans and Academic Leaders Designed specifically for deans and faculty, aimed at changing behavior, building strong partnerships, and shifting organization-wide culture
Coaching Services Expert coaches, virtual delivery, and communication and support throughout the engagement
Transforming Your Organization With Individual Giving Starting or growing individual giving, understanding the psychology of donor motivation, and learning from success stories of starting individual giving programs

The site also lists upcoming workshops and invites organizations to register.

What makes it distinctive

Two things stand out in how Advancement Resources describes itself. First, it frames its education as research-based rather than purely experiential. Second, it pairs learning with implementation: several offerings include onsite support, phased program design, and coaching rather than ending at the classroom. That combination is aimed at producing behavior change and a culture shift around fundraising, particularly in academic and clinical settings where faculty and clinicians are not professional fundraisers.

Current status

Advancement Resources has been acquired by Huron. According to the announcement on its site, it continues to serve its clients as part of Huron, which works with education institutions and healthcare and nonprofit organizations. Contact information listed on the site includes [email protected], +1 319 398 3376, and an address in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

When it is a fit

Advancement Resources is worth a look if you are:

  • Onboarding new frontline fundraisers and want structured, on-demand training
  • Trying to engage deans, faculty, or clinicians in fundraising
  • Starting or scaling an individual giving program
  • Looking for coaching or implementation support alongside training

If you only need a one-off workshop or general fundraising content, the broader program structure may be more than you need. To check current availability, formats, and workshop dates, the site's workshop registration and contact channels are the places to start.