AUBURN – Central Maine Community College is offering a series of workshops on fund-raising. The new program is designed to help local nonprofits increase fund-raising success.

“Raising money for nonprofits isn’t rocket science but it’s not all common sense either,” said Marc Pitman, who will facilitate the series. “This program will be helpful both for people new to the field and for experienced pros.”

The series will start on Sept. 21 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. with Fund-raising 101 (FRI 001-01), which will cover easy-to-apply principles based on decades of fund-raising excellence. Participants will learn the three types of communication needed; how many times to say “thank you” between solicitations; the difference between annual funds, capital campaigns and endowments; and how to create a simple model for setting up a fund-raising effort. The cost is $55, which includes materials.

Pitman is an expert in fund-raising and has played significant roles in capital campaigns that have raised a combined total of more than $50 million. Pitman said, “Fund-raising is an extreme sport. Your equipment is often simply a cup of coffee and your passion, your uniform a suit and a bow tie.”

Two other workshops in the series are scheduled for Oct. 19 (Asking for Money) and Nov. 16 (How to Handle Objections When Fund-raising).

To register for the workshop or for more information on upcoming workshops, contact Jennifer Lyons, corporate and community services, at 755-5280 or e-mail [email protected].