Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE)

If you are a member of the Chapter you may borrow study books.
Click HERE to see the list of books in the library. Call the Chapter to see which books are available.  More to come!

Is it Time for You to Become a CFRE?

Personal fulfillment. Career advancement. Giving fundraising credibility as a profession. There are lots of good reasons to become a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

According to CFRE International, there are 5,404 CFREs across the globe. With the recent transition to an online application, the process itself is less onerous than you may have heard from people who became CFREs using the paper application.

Have you looked for a job recently? More and more employers are aware of the value of a CFRE and are specifically seeking development professionals with one. From their perspective, it’s a way to vet applicants. Someone with a CFRE clearly has raised actual funds, been in the field for at least five years, and is committed to professional development. This is especially important in today’s economy where the market is becoming more competitive.

The process of preparing for the CFRE exam may be just as valuable as the certification itself. CFRE International has a reading list that contains more than 30 books, many of which are industry classics. Making sure you pass the test on the first try is just the right motivation to read some, most, or all these books you’ve been meaning to get to but haven’t.

As much as the CFRE certification process can be the motivation you need to read all those books, it can be the incentive you need to make it to all those great educational sessions AFP-GPC offers. Even once you have your CFRE, you will have the motivation you need to get those 15 hours of continuing education each year.

Anyone who’s looked through AFP’s Compensation & Benefits Report has surely noticed the difference in earnings between development professionals with a CFRE versus no CFRE or other certification. The 2009 report showed an average salary for CFREs of $84,360 compared to $69,535.

Additional opportunities are also available to development professionals who are CFREs. If you’re interested in sharing your knowledge by presenting at conferences, having your CFRE can open up doors.

With so many fundraisers coming to the field from disparate backgrounds and varying levels of experience, a CFRE helps differentiate you from the crowd. Employers, donors, and other professionals will know you’re not just someone trying out fundraising – you are an experienced practitioner. With the proliferation of certifications and designations, not everyone outside fundraising will know what a CFRE is. Don’t let that stop you.

While obtaining your CFRE requires a financial investment of at least $618 ($778 for fundraisers who aren’t members of a participating organization like AFP), not including any books you would purchase or review courses you would attend, the investment in yourself is much greater.

What is CFRE?

Starting in 1997, AHP merged its certification program with that of AFP and all successful applicants will hold either the CFRE or ACFRE credential. Prior to 1997, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy has had its own two-tier fund-raising credentials known as CAHP (Certified Associate for Healthcare Philanthropy) and FAHP (Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy).

CFRE, stands for Certified Fund-Raising Executive and is considered the "baseline" certification of a professional fund raiser with a minimum of five years experience. Certification is sponsored and issued by AFP and AHP (Association of Healthcare Philanthropy). To qualify, the candidate must:

• be currently employed as a fund-raising executive;
• have a minimum of five years full-time experience as a professional member of a fund-raising staff or as a fund-raising consultant to non-profit organizations within the previous eight years;
• pledge to uphold the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice.

The candidate completes a detailed application that chronicles their education, work history, continuing education and service to profession. If the application is accepted, the applicant takes a written examination that tests his/her knowledge of a wide range of fund-raising principles and techniques. Given the dynamic nature of the fund-raising field, one must document professional accomplishments and show participation in continuing education to retain the CFRE status. Re-certification is required every three years.

Click here to connect with the AFP International home page to request an application form for the CFRE program.  Or go to www.cfre.org for more information.

What is ACFRE?

ACFRE, Advanced Certified Fund-Raising Executive, is a rigorous process that requires a broad mastery of the fund-raising profession. Qualifying components include:

• Current CFRE status with at least one three-year re-certification;
• Minimum of ten years of full-time paid professional experience in the fund-raising field;
• B.S./B.A. or equivalent experience;
• Adherence to AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice;
• Active participation in AFP and/or other fund-raising organizations with demonstrated service to other non-profit organizations;
• Participation within the previous five years in at least two national fund-raising conferences, one of which must be sponsored by AFP;
• Attendance or instruction within the previous five years of at least 24 educational contact hours in other senior-level development seminars and/or courses.

Click here to connect with the AFP International home page to request an application form for the ACFRE program.