Students’ Fundraising Projects in the System of Future Social Workers Professional Training

Abstract

The need for the development and content of students’ fundraising projects in the system of social workers professional training is substantiated. Based on the analysis of educational programs in the field 231 Social work (BSW and MSW), a conclusion is formulated on the lack of subjects on social fundraising in the content of social workers training. The basic principles, ethical requirements and essence of fundraising activity of social workers in the field of social protection of various groups of clients are defined. It is concluded that this activity requires specially formed professional knowledge and skills of a fundraiser, as well as developed personal qualities of a specialist capable to affect the volume, complex, algorithm of providing these resources in the planning, implementation and reporting of a social project. The content of knowledge, skills and abilities of social workers on fundraising design is clarified. The procedure and algorithm for students to develop educational projects in the process of studying the subject «Social Fundraising» (idea formulation, budget design, communication with donors, project implementation, reporting) are presented. The scope of knowledge, skills (informational, operational, design, reflective) and soft skills in the process of development of students' fundraising competence is characterized. Examples of tasks on practical classes on social fundraising are given. Tasks are aimed at forming students' theoretical knowledge of the course «Social Fundraising» (knowledge of basic concepts, principles and ethical norms of fundraising activities in the social sphere), as well as practical skills (development of fundraising projects related to socially vulnerable segments of the population; opinions on the feasibility of implementing a social project in the local or global dimension, creating a database of potential donors of a social project, developing a budget and chronology of the project, organizing appropriate communications with potential donors, etc.).