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Mini Courses

Mini-Courses at Your Desktop

The Mini-Courses below provide online professional training in philanthropy education and service-learning. In your own time and at your desktop, learn about the history and practice of philanthropy, civic engagement, and service-learning - for educators, nonprofit professionals, parents, and volunteers. Participants earn certificates that may be applied toward professional development. Your certificates are emailed to you and stored in your account profile for access anytime.

Welcome to the Fisher Online Institute for free professional mini-courses! 

Click on the title of the course to begin. You will need to create a free account to access the courses. The mini-courses include information, research, tips, stories, videos, and reflection to engage the learner and may be completed in 20-45 minutes. 

Three types of courses:

  • Understanding Philanthropy (history, framework of democracy, nonprofit careers)
  • Service-Learning Practice and Projects (service-learning, reflection, raising philanthropic kids, project ideas)
  • Using Website Resources (getting started and using different resources and lessons on the site)

Youth and Learning to Give

With guidance from Learning to Give resources, youth interact in their local community to learn the skills, knowledge, and actions of lifelong philanthropy. This course follows the main menu (above) of the website with stories, tools, and resources for empowering youth agency through philanthropy, from understanding their community and themselves to learning skills and knowledge and taking action. 

Why I Serve

Explore the research-based motivations for giving time, talent, or treasure for the common good and learn how and why to motivate oneself and others to serve. 

Using Spoken Word Poetry for Justice

Here's one creative way to engage youth voice to take voluntary action for the common good -- teach them to use spoken word for the causes they care about. This mini-course provides background, examples, and tips for teaching spoken word poetry. Designed for facilitators, this mini-course is also accessible to youth.

The Nonprofit Sector 101

This mini-course provides a brief overview of the purpose and features of the nonprofit sector. You will learn about the role that the sector plays in society, how and why people work or volunteer in the sector, issues within nonprofit organizations, and how to empower youth with participation in the nonprofit sector. 

Sustainable Development Goals and Youth Action

We are all connected in a global community, and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call us to action to make a better future for everyone. In order to be successful in reaching these goals, all citizens need to be aware of what the issues are and ways to take action. In this mini-course, we introduce the 17 SDGs and explore ways to bring the goals to life with youth. We guide awareness about the current 17 goals with tools to research and decide which issue participants care about most.

Student Activism

In this mini-course, we learn what student activism looks like, why it is important to teach the knowledge and skills of social action, and ways to include activism in practice that gives students more purpose and ownership in their learning and volunteerism.

Reflection in Service

Learn about the purpose of reflection and a variety of reflection techniques and questions. Engage the hearts and minds of volunteers and activists in order to increase the meaning of any service experience. 

Raising Philanthropic Children

Raising children includes instilling values and habits that help young people grow into caring and productive members of society. Children learn philanthropic behavior and habits from family, faith-based practice, school, and other community influences. Throughout this course you will learn some of the theory, concepts, and practices that guide young people to be giving and empathetic adults. 

 

History of Philanthropy

Learn about philanthropic elements of ancient civilizations and religions. Explore the philanthropy of major social movements in the history of the United States.

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No matter where you teach or how many students you have, everyone has something to contribute that can help make the world a better place.
Learning to Give Fisher Training Participant

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I can make a positive impact on my students and be a part of helping them realize just how important they are as well as the difference they can make.
Teacher Evaluation of Fisher Training

Civic Skills

These guides teach the knowledge and skills of responsible citizenship to grow agency for using our voices, having critical conversations, and making informed decisions.

Mini Courses

The Mini-Courses provide online training in philanthropy education. In your own time and at your desktop, learn about the history and practice of philanthropy, civic engagement, and service-learning - for educators, nonprofit professionals, parents, and volunteers.

Mini Courses

The Mini-Courses provide online training in philanthropy education. In your own time and at your desktop, learn about the history and practice of philanthropy, civic engagement, and service-learning - for educators, nonprofit professionals, parents, and volunteers.