Executive Certificate in Transformational Philanthropy
Total Points
100
Passing score: 75 points
Estimated Time
2–3 hrs
Complete in one session
Part I Auto-Graded
40 pts
Multiple choice & true/false
Essays & Case Study
60 pts
Instructor-reviewed
Before you begin: This examination is available only upon confirmed completion of all six ECTP sessions, including all required readings, digital tool assignments, and homework. By proceeding, you confirm that you have completed the full curriculum.
Reference tools available throughout your exam: donorassess.org · transactandtransform.org · partnerassess.net
Section 1 of 5
Participant Information
Please complete all fields before beginning the examination.
Section 2 of 5 · Part I of IV
Part I — Multiple Choice & True/False
Questions 1–20 of 40. Select the best answer. 1 point per question. Auto-graded.
Section 2 of 5 · Part I continued
Part I — Multiple Choice & True/False
Questions 21–40 of 40. Select the best answer. 1 point per question. Auto-graded.
Section 3 of 5 · Part II of IV
Part II — Short Answer
Answer each question in 150–250 words. Be specific. Instructor-reviewed. 5 points per question — 25 points total.
Short Answer 1 of 5 · 5 points
Explain the distinction between Schervish's "scolding model" and his "inclination model" of philanthropy. How does this distinction apply to your organization's current fundraising communications and solicitation strategy?
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Short Answer 2 of 5 · 5 points
Describe the six dimensions of the donorassess.org framework. For each dimension, provide one discovery question that a transformational fundraiser might use in a donor conversation.
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Short Answer 3 of 5 · 5 points
Langley argues that sustainable philanthropy requires closing the gap between what institutions want from donors and what donors want from institutions. Describe this gap in the context of your own organization and outline two specific strategies for closing it.
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Short Answer 4 of 5 · 5 points
According to Lewis, what is "arms-length fundraising" and why does it produce both donor attrition and staff attrition? How does the transformational framework proposed by Dobosz address this problem?
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Short Answer 5 of 5 · 5 points
Shang and Sargeant demonstrate that reflecting a donor's moral identity in organizational communications increases giving. Using the donorassess.org six-dimension framework, describe how you would rewrite one element of your organization's current fundraising communication to better reflect donor identity.
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Section 4 of 5 · Part III of IV
Part III — Applied Case Study
Read the case study carefully. Answer all four questions in essay format. 600–900 words. 20 points.
The Arbor Hill Community Foundation
The Arbor Hill Community Foundation has been operating for 22 years with an annual budget of $3.2 million. The Development Director is preparing to lead a $5M major gifts campaign focused on endowment building. The following data is available:
Major Gift Donors ($10K+)
24
Avg. Dev. Director Tenure
14 months (5 in 7 years)
Donor Retention Rate
43%
Board $10K+ Gifts (3 yrs)
4 of 18
transactandtransform.org Score
2.3 / 5.0
Largest Gift in History
$250,000 (11 years ago)
CEO Tenure
6 months
Planned Giving Program
None
The new Development Director has read Beyond the Ask and Beyond the Culture and attended a Dobosz workshop. She has 18 months before the public phase launch.
Case Study Response · 20 points · 600–900 words
Address all four questions in your response:
(1) Diagnose the primary cultural and structural barriers to transformational philanthropy at Arbor Hill. Which data points are most diagnostic?
(2) Using the transactandtransform.org and partnerassess.net frameworks, outline the first 90 days of the Development Director's tenure.
(3) The board's philanthropic engagement is clearly inadequate. Using Langley's four-A framework, design a board re-engagement strategy for the next 12 months.
(4) Can this campaign succeed? What conditions must be met for the $5M endowment campaign to produce transformational rather than transactional philanthropy?
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Section 5 of 5 · Part IV of IV
Part IV — Capstone Essay
500–750 word essay. Draw on at least four scholars or frameworks from this program. 15 points.
"The sector has over-invested in solicitation mechanics and under-invested in donor identity, organizational culture, and mission alignment. The result is a philanthropy ecosystem that is technically proficient but relationally shallow."
— Mark J. Dobosz, Beyond the Ask (2025)
Drawing on at least four scholars/practitioners (Dobosz, Shang, Sargeant, Schervish, Langley, and/or Lewis), write an essay that:
(1) Evaluates the accuracy of this diagnosis for your specific organization or sector
(2) Argues for the single most important change the sector must make to move from transactional to transformational philanthropy
(3) Describes what you personally commit to doing differently as a result of this program
Capstone Essay · 15 points · 500–750 words
Demonstrate mastery of the core frameworks. Reference specific research findings. Reflect genuine personal and professional insight.
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Final Step
Review & Submit
Review your completion status before submitting. Once submitted you cannot make changes.
Section
Points
Status
After submission: Your Part I score will appear immediately. Parts II–IV are instructor-reviewed. Your complete Pass/Fail result will be returned to you by email.
TPI
Examination Submitted
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—/40 pts
Results Pending Instructor Review
Your Part I auto-score is shown above. Parts II, III, and IV are under instructor review. Your complete Pass/Fail result will be emailed to you.
Part I — Multiple Choice / True-False— / 40
Part II — Short Answer (5 questions)Pending review / 25