Christian Aid is undergoing an unprecedented drive to train 110 of its non-fundraising staff in the art of fundraising after dropping its head of fundraising role last year.

Teaming up with the Institute of Fundraising, the chosen staff - predominantly regional managers, coordinators and administrators - will undertake a bespoke three-day classroom-based course and a short online course, with the aim of achieving an Introduction to Fundraising certificate from the Institute. They are all expected to complete by February.

"This is the first major initiative like this that the IoF has worked on. It reflects a change in approach in the way we work with organisations’ members," said the Institute's director of professional development and membership, Paul Marvell.

"In the past there would be a range of prescribed training solutions, here we are working with a charity and supporting it to understand the learning and development required to help it achieve strategic fundraising objectives by putting together a tailored solution to address those needs."

Ruth Ruderham left the head of fundraising role in June 2011 and the position was left vacant until the charity advised it would not be filled in February last year. Christian Aid advised that David Pain, director of supporter and community partnerships, would lead the department in charge of fundraising but the board would now be responsible for fundraising spend and performance. The charity advised at the time that it would concentrate on building a "wider ownership" of fundraising throughout the organisation. 

"It's not unusual for colleagues whose job descriptions don't say 'fundraiser' to feel that the task of asking supporters to give is someone else's role," said Alison Knight, a member of Christian Aid's project team. "We believe everyone in the organisation has a role in fundraising and this programme will equip all our colleagues to create opportunities to make the ask effectively." 

Christian Aid currently has 504 staff in the UK (900 worldwide) and raises over £62m annually through voluntary donations (excluding legacies and grants), comprising the majority of the charity's £95m annual income. This is the 15th highest voluntary income in the sector. (Read the directors of fundraising survey for more sector-wide information)

The bespoke course for Christian Aid staff, paid for through the charity's training budget, touches upon the principles of fundraising including the fundraising cycle, donor motivations, strategy and project management and tips and techniques on making the 'ask'.