A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering NIST 800-171 for University Advancement Leaders
Own the compliance conversation in advancement with precision and authority.
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Compliance reviews slow down advancement initiatives.
The situation this course is for
Advancement teams often get caught in extended compliance loops, waiting for IT or legal to sign off on data use in donor engagement or grant reporting. This delay risks momentum and creates friction with development timelines.
Who this is for
Senior advancement leader at a public university managing donor relations, alumni engagement, and federally linked initiatives requiring secure data handling.
Who this is not for
This is not for compliance officers focused solely on IT systems or auditors preparing checklists. It’s for advancement executives who need to own data policy decisions without deferring to technical teams.
What you walk away with
- Final sign-off authority on data flows involving federally regulated information
- Confidence to approve vendor data handling agreements without escalation
- Standardized templates for documenting NIST 800-171 compliance in advancement activities
- Clear mapping of control requirements to donor and grant data workflows
- Internal credibility as the go-to decision-maker for compliance-adjacent advancement work
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. NIST 800-171 and the Advancement Context
Understand how NIST 800-171 applies specifically to university advancement, including donor data, sponsored research, and alumni engagements with federal ties.
12 chapters in this module
- Scope of NIST 800-171 in non-IT roles
- Federal funding triggers for compliance
- Advancement data classification levels
- Key overlaps with FERPA and common grant requirements
- When CUI appears in donor correspondence
- Handling CUI in alumni events
- Third-party data exchange risks
- Compliance ownership boundaries
- Mapping advancement functions to controls
- Common misconceptions in higher ed
- Why this matters now
- Setting your personal decision threshold
Module 2. Control Family 3.1.1: Limit Access to Authorized Users
Apply user access principles to real advancement scenarios like donor databases and shared spreadsheets.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining 'authorized user' in fundraising
- Role-based access for campaign staff
- Access reviews for volunteer coordinators
- Tracking access changes manually
- Documenting access rationale
- Shared account policies
- Termination procedures for interns
- Logging access in low-tech environments
- Vendor access to prospect lists
- Review frequency for alumni teams
- Escalation paths for exceptions
- Your sign-off on access lists
Module 3. Control Family 3.1.2: Limit Data Access to Need-to-Know
Implement need-to-know rules in advancement workflows without slowing engagement.
12 chapters in this module
- Need-to-know in donor outreach
- Prospect screening workflows
- Wealth indicators and handling
- Restricting data in joint campaigns
- Field officer data access
- Alumni chapter communications
- Fundraising call scripts
- Event guest list controls
- Access during major solicitations
- Documenting need-to-know justifications
- Reviewing historical access
- Updating permissions quarterly
Module 4. Control Family 3.1.3: Establish and Maintain an Authorized Access List
Build and maintain access registers tailored to advancement operations.
12 chapters in this module
- Creating the initial access list
- Including temporary staff
- Tracking access by campaign
- Using spreadsheets effectively
- Version control for access lists
- Quarterly review process
- Sign-off by advancement lead
- Sharing lists with IT securely
- Auditor-readiness format
- Updating for role changes
- Offboarding access removal
- Retention of historical lists
Module 5. Vendor Data Handling Agreements
Approve third-party contracts with confidence using NIST-aligned terms.
12 chapters in this module
- Why vendors trigger NIST compliance
- Common data flows with vendors
- Pre-approved clause library
- Reviewing data storage terms
- Cloud provider responsibilities
- Penetration testing access rights
- Incident response coordination
- Subcontractor oversight
- Termination data return clauses
- Annual compliance validation
- Audit rights for advancement
- Your final approval on vendor selection
Module 6. Data Flow Mapping for Donor Campaigns
Visualize and document how sensitive data moves across systems and people.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying CUI in donor records
- Entry points for external data
- Paper forms and data entry
- Email handling of sensitive info
- Printing donor reports securely
- Sharing data with partners
- Cloud storage for campaign files
- USB drives in field operations
- Temporary data repositories
- Disposal procedures
- Mapping tools for non-IT users
- Documenting flows for auditors
Module 7. Incident Response Planning for Advancement
Respond to data incidents without escalating to central IT first.
12 chapters in this module
- What counts as an incident
- Reporting lost donor laptops
- Phishing attempts on alumni staff
- Suspicious access patterns
- Internal reporting chain
- Documenting response steps
- Legal hold procedures
- Preserving evidence
- Communicating with donors
- Reporting to oversight bodies
- Post-incident review
- Your authority to initiate response
Module 8. Compliance Documentation Playbook
Generate auditor-ready documentation specific to advancement activities.
12 chapters in this module
- Required evidence by control
- Acceptable formats for documentation
- Using narrative to support controls
- Screenshot-based evidence
- Template library for common scenarios
- Versioning and storage
- Access during audits
- Redacting sensitive data
- Cross-referencing controls
- Updating annually
- Delegation tracking
- Final review before submission
Module 9. Training and Awareness for Advancement Teams
Roll out mandatory security awareness tailored to fundraising roles.
12 chapters in this module
- Why training matters under NIST
- Content for development officers
- Alumni volunteer training
- Frequency and delivery
- Acknowledgment tracking
- Phishing simulation basics
- Wealth screening ethics
- Data handling role plays
- Record retention for trainings
- Exemptions and accommodations
- Annual refresher content
- Your sign-off on completion
Module 10. Periodic Review and Self-Assessment
Conduct internal reviews without relying on central compliance teams.
12 chapters in this module
- Review frequency by control
- Checklist design
- Evidence collection workflow
- Scoring maturity levels
- Identifying gaps early
- Action planning
- Tracking remediation
- Reporting to senior leadership
- Using self-assessments for audits
- Benchmarking across campuses
- Documenting review independence
- Your final approval on findings
Module 11. Advancement-Specific Implementation Roadmap
Prioritize controls based on real-world advancement workflows.
12 chapters in this module
- High-impact, low-effort controls
- Quick wins in donor data
- Phased rollout strategy
- Resource allocation
- Stakeholder alignment
- Timeline for full compliance
- Integrating with campaign calendar
- Budget considerations
- Leadership communication plan
- Success metrics
- Sustainability planning
- Handover to successors
Module 12. Sustaining Compliance Through Leadership Change
Ensure your playbook endures beyond your tenure.
12 chapters in this module
- Documenting decision rationale
- Building institutional memory
- Succession planning
- Onboarding new leaders
- Updating playbooks annually
- Archiving historical decisions
- Knowledge transfer sessions
- Standard operating procedures
- Retention policy for records
- Audit trail maintenance
- Version control best practices
- Your documented authority as precedent
How this maps to your situation
- Onboarding for new advancement leaders
- Preparing for federal grant compliance
- Improving vendor oversight
- Strengthening internal audit readiness
Before vs. after
Before
Waiting for IT or compliance teams to approve data decisions in advancement initiatives.
After
You have direct sign-off authority on NIST 800-171, related data practices and vendor agreements.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 6-8 hours of self-paced study, with implementation activities taking an additional 4-6 hours.
If nothing changes
Continuing to escalate routine compliance decisions slows down fundraising cycles and positions advancement as dependent rather than decisive.
How this compares to the alternatives
Generic NIST 800-171 courses focus on IT systems and defense contractors. This course is tailored to advancement leaders, meaning every example, template, and decision point reflects your actual work.
Frequently asked
Do I need a technical background to benefit from this course?
No. The course is designed for non-technical leaders and uses plain language applied to real advancement scenarios.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this help with CMMC compliance?
While this course focuses on NIST 800-171, the knowledge directly supports CMMC Level 2 compliance in university settings.
$199 one-time. Approximately 6-8 hours of self-paced study, with implementation activities taking an additional 4-6 hours..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours