Transcript Document

Becoming a CFRE®
Why Becoming a Certified Fund
Raising Executive (CFRE) Should
Be Your Next Personal and
Professional Goal
For table discussion …
Are you perceived as having a development
job?
Or as being a development professional?
How do you know?
Elements of a Profession
• Most professions possess the following:
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Recognized body of knowledge
Continuing education for professionals
Code of ethics
Research studying the profession
Certification for practitioners in the profession
Certified Fund Raising Executive
….a professional credential
• CFRE International is an independent
501(c)6 whose sole mission is dedicated to
setting standards in philanthropy through a
valid and reliable certification process.
• Founded in 2001 as the result of the merger
of CAHP and NSFRE certification programs.
Recognized Body of Knowledge
• Based on a job analysis
• International study of fundraising practice
• The survey listed all the fundraising duties and all
the knowledge which might be required to be a
fundraiser
• Result is the Core Body of Knowledge required to
be an effective fundraising professional
Other Hallmarks of a Profession
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Continuing education for professionals
Code of ethics
Research studying the profession
Certification of professionals – provided by CFRE
International
What Distinguishes CFRE?
• Certification Requires:
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Fundraising Experience
Continuing Education
Demonstrated Fundraising Performance
Community Service
• Candidates adhere to the Donor Bill of Rights
• Candidates pledge adherence to Accountability
Standards
CFRE Certificants Have
Fundraising Experience
• Certificants have at least five years of paid,
professional experience as a member of a
philanthropic fundraising staff or as a consultant to
a nonprofit bringing a significant knowledge base to
any position.
CFRE Certificants Remain Current
with Trends and Best Practices
• Certificants are required to continue to obtain
current professional development
information, explore new knowledge in
specific content areas, master new fundraising
related skills and techniques, and conduct
professional practice in an ethical and
appropriate manner.
CFRE Certificants Have a Proven
Track Record
• Certificants have a track record of
performance with communications projects,
management assignments, or front line
fundraising experience with outcomes that
directly impact the development function of
their organisation and must demonstrate this
throughout their certification.
CFRE Certificants Engage in
Community Service
• Certificants are personally and professionally
invested in their community. Through
participation in professional associations
and/or community organizations (i.e., local
church, youth groups, service clubs, etc.),
members are active volunteers who care
about their community.
CFRE Demographics
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Total Number of CFRE Certificants
5,322
United States – 4,422
Canada – 730
Australia – 82
United Kingdom – 25
New Zealand – 19
Mexico – 2
Singapore – 2
Ireland – 2
France – 1
Hong Kong – 1
Puerto Rico – 1
Other – 35
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Gender
Female – 68.4%
Male – 31.6%
Reasons to Become CFRE-Certified
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Credibility
Achievement
Commitment
Advancement
Recognition
Personal Satisfaction
Why Pursue Professional
Certification?
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Responsibility. Knowledge. Skills.
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CFRE certification indicates your willingness to
invest in your own professional development.
CFRE certification showcases your individual
mastery by confirming proficiency and
knowledge in the field.
Recertification is required every three years,
proving you stay ahead of the curve in
fundraising.
Why the CFRE?
• In the U.S., CFRE certificants earn over $25,000
more than their non-certified colleagues
– Average salary of $95,136
• In Canada, CFRE certificants earn over $26,000
more than their non-certified colleagues
– Average salary of $98,853
*statistics courtesy of the 2011 Compensation and Benefits Study conducted by the Association of
Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
Certification Process
• Application - a written application with a point-system
to demonstrate your experience – online
• Examination - a standardised, multiple-choice exam of
225 questions
• Accountability Standards - promoting integrity,
ethical behaviour and the Donor Bill of Rights
• Recertification - reassessment every three years
required to continue to be certified
Application
Eligibility Requirements
• Education: Continuing education courses in related areas
• Professional Practice: Five (5) years of experience as a professional
fundraising staff member or a fundraising consultant
• Professional Performance: Demonstrated professional achievement
• Service: Demonstrated commitment to the spirit of philanthropy
through volunteer service
• Agree to uphold the Donor Bill of Rights and the CFRE International
Accountability Standards
Education Requirements
• 80 points required (1 hour = 1 point )
– Document participation in conferences,
workshops, or seminars related to fundraising,
not-for-profit management, marketing, or other
related topics OR
– Teaching courses on the above topics OR
– Authoring articles or books
• Must have taken courses during past 5 years
Professional Practice Requirements
• 60 points required (1 month = 1 point)
– Must document five (5) years of full-time, paid
professional experience in fundraising during the past
eight (8) years
• At least 50% of duties must be directly related to
fundraising – this can include research and grant
proposal writing
Professional Performance
Requirements
• 55 points required through documentation
of:
– Management Projects - 5 points per project
• Examples: board development, feasibility study, strategic planning
– Communications Projects - 5 points per project
• Examples: newsletter development, public relations
– Actual funds raised - $25,000 = 1 point
– Must have been during the past 5 years
Service Requirements
• 55 points required
– Must document a commitment to volunteerism and
stewardship through participation in their own volunteer
activities in the community or with a professional
organization
• Officer of a Board of Directors = 20 points per year
• Member of a Board of Directors = 15 points per year
• Chair of a Committee = 15 points per year
• Member of a Committee = 10 points per year
• General volunteer service = 10 points per year
• Must have been performed during the past 5 years
The Online Application
• Go to www.cfre.org, click on “Apply Now, and use your email and a
password of your choosing to create a secure, online account.
• Enter your data as you go throughout the form.
• The form calculates your required points and turns green when you have
entered enough data.
• When you are ready to apply and have your application evaluated, you
must PRINT, SIGN and MAIL your application to CFRE International.
• Creating an online account is free. You only pay application and testing
fees when you are ready to submit.
Certification Timeline
• Go online and complete your application www.cfre.org.
• Submit application at least 60 days prior to start of exam
testing window.
• Receive Authorization to Test Letter to take exam 30 days
prior to exam OR receive request for additional information.
• Make personal testing reservation on-line.
• Write exam at a convenient computer-based testing center of
your choosing. (Prometric Test Centers in Ashwaubenon,
Brookfield and Madison are WI sites)
• Receive preliminary scores upon completing the exam.
Computer-Based Testing
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Candidates take CFRE exam on a computer in a proctored testing centre at a set
appointment time of the candidate’s choosing
– Testing on own computer not possible
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CFRE exam “testing windows” for 2014 not yet set. For 2013, the remaining
window is October 25 – December 7.
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Over 300 testing centres are available in North America
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Candidates will still need to apply to CFRE International and get approval before
making their personal testing reservation
Computer-Based Testing
• Candidates will be able to take a tutorial on-site at the testing
center to familiarize themselves with the computer screen
and process.
• Detailed FAQs about computer-based testing (CBT) are
available on the CFRE website.
CFRE Examination
• 225 multiple-choice questions (25 of which are pretest items and do not affect your score)
• Developed by current, certified fundraising
professionals in the field in conjunction with a
professional testing agency
• Separate forms available for residents of
Australia/New Zealand, Canada, the United
Kingdom, and the United States
Exam Content*
• Prospective and Current Donor Research
(32 items – 16%)
• Securing the Gift (38 items - 19%)
• Relationship Building (54 items - 27%)
• Volunteer Involvement (18 items – 8%)
• Leadership and Management (36 items - 18%)
• Ethics and Accountability (22 items – 11%)
* Based on 2009 Job Analysis
How Do I Study?
• This baseline, generalist exam assesses your
mastery of tasks performed on the job by
fundraisers and the knowledge needed to carry
out those tasks - not a prescribed set of texts.
• What YOU need to study may not be the same as
what your colleague in the office next door needs to
study.
• Honestly evaluate YOUR strengths and weakness.
How Do I Study?
• Take the CFRE On-Line Study Wizard and
compare your professional experience to what is covered.
– Identify your personal areas of strengths and weakness.
• Review texts or portions of texts recommended by the
CFRE Study Wizard from the CFRE Resource
Reading List that cover weaker areas.
– Form informal study groups with your colleagues.
CFRE Study Wizard
Regarding Prep / Review Courses
• International standards for the operation of certification
programs prohibit the organization that administers the exam
from also preparing candidates for the exam.
• Any educational programs will help support your overall
knowledge base, thus helping you prepare for an exam.
• Candidates should not expect a course to “teach to the
exam” and tell you how to answer questions on the exam.
• Each candidate’s study plan should be as unique as that
candidate’s own experiences.
Timeline After the Exam
• At testing centers, candidates will receive an immediate
Pass/Fail determination via a printout at the center.
• 15 days after the end of the testing window all candidates will
receive a detailed score report showing full score.
– Successful candidates receive official notice and certificate from CFRE
International
• Can begin using CFRE designation
– Unsuccessful candidates receive information on retaking the exam
• Candidates must wait three months before retaking the exam
Recertification
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) is
conferred for three (3) years
– candidates are sent a notice to the last address on record
six months prior to the deadline for recertification
• Must submit written application
• Must apply for and be granted recertification in
order to continue using the CFRE
• No exam is required for recertification
CFRE Program Information
• Apply on-line at: www.cfre.org
• Don’t hesitate to call with questions at +1.703.820.5555
“Receiving the CFRE designation not only gave me a sense of
personal accomplishment but also shows how seriously I
view professionalism, hard work, and ethics. I’m glad I went
through the process and would do it all over again!”
- Ken Turpen, CFRE
Charlotte, NC