Interested in learning about the benefits of the CFRE credential? We’ve partnered with CFRE International to offer a free webinar on February 2. Register here.
The CFRE. Those four letters you’ve seen after the names of your fundraising peers. What do they mean and what do they indicate?
More importantly, are they something worth achieving for yourself?
Let’s dive in and see.
The Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential is the only globally recognized, accredited credential for fundraising professionals. Whether you work in Toronto or Taiwan, those letters signify you are a fundraising professional adhering to the highest standards.
Christina Morgan, a fundraising professional in Newfoundland and Labrador who became a CFRE in 2021, sums it up, “The CFRE credential will tell the world you have a dedication to the excellence of fundraising and ethics and that you’ve achieved a level of mastery in the profession.”
Is the CFRE worth it?
Becoming a CFRE doesn’t happen overnight. You need to have worked a minimum of 36 months in a paid professional fundraising role in the last five years. Additionally, there are funds raised and education requirements to be met.
Once those are reached, you are given the green light to sit for the CFRE Exam and have up to one year to take it.
Most people who successfully pass the exam have studied 40 to 80 hours. Some complete their studying in as little as six weeks while others may spread it out across six months or more. There is no wrong or right method, as long as you’re soaking in the information you need to know.
But for the time and effort…does it really pay off?
Yes.
CFREs earn 5 to 16 percent more than non-certified colleagues with comparable experience (Source: 2022 Association of Fundraising Professionals Compensation and Benefits Report).
While you may not find your current employer jumping out of their seat to raise your pay once you’re certified, many CFREs say they achieved a significant salary lift when they secured their first job after earning the credential.
It’s a powerful bargaining chip during salary negotiations.
In fact, some Canadian nonprofits have said that when hiring fundraising professionals, they begin interviewing candidates with the CFRE first. If you haven’t earned the credential, you may have a reduced chance of making it to the screening or interview steps.
Ring, Ring
When was the last time a recruiter called you?
CFREs across Canada report that once they earned the credential, they received far more calls from recruiters than before. In fact, some say that within a week of becoming a CFRE, they had recruiters ringing.
Recruiters want to make successful placements. That’s how they grow a strong reputation. They know CFREs bring an elevated skill set and confidence to the table, which ultimately benefits employers.
Mind the knowledge gaps
It’s OK to admit you sometimes question your own skill set. Maybe you’re even wrestling with imposter syndrome.
Earning your CFRE can give you the confidence boost you’ve been seeking. According to the 2021 CFRE Certificant Survey, 92 percent of CFREs said earning the designation increased on-the-job confidence.
Judy Zhu, a CFRE in British Columbia, says, “The CFRE certification pays off immediately through increased confidence and delivering great value to your organization’s cause.”
Few in the field have completed a formal course or certificate in fundraising. There may not be the time or financial ability to pursue one. If you have been practicing for several years, there could even be the fear that you’ll be taught things you already know well.
The CFRE process is designed to help you find where your knowledge gaps are and address them.
The CFRE Test Content Outline is a comprehensive overview of what the exam covers. Candidates use it to identify areas they have the least professional experience in or don’t feel confident about answering on an exam. Then, candidates select a text or two from the CFRE Resource Reading List to gain knowledge in the needed areas.
Staying current or falling behind?
The world doesn’t stand still. Neither does fundraising.
That’s why after becoming a CFRE, every three years you recertify by meeting Education, Professional Practice (time in the profession), and Professional Performance (funds raised) requirements. Recertifying is a testament you’re keeping your knowledge sharp and skill set fresh.
It’s also what keeps CFREs in such high demand.
Unlike a certificate or diploma that can be out-of-date five years later, the CFRE promotes staying current on best practices throughout your career.
Ready to get started?
Don’t forget that if you’re a member of one of the many CFRE Participating Organizations (including AFP, CAGP, and AHP) in the sector, you’ll save 20 percent off the cost of your initial application fee.
Begin your journey at cfre.org. See how far becoming a CFRE can take you.
Ashley Gatewood, Communications and Marketing Director at CFRE International, is passionate about the nonprofit sector and membership associations, having spent the bulk of her career in these areas. She loves talking about the CFRE credential and how it can help elevate fundraising professionals’ careers. Ashley has been with CFRE International since 2018. She believes nonprofits and the people within them play an integral role in shaping our world for the better. Previously, she was the events and marketing manager at the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand where she helped bring world-class fundraising programing to the country. Ashley holds a bachelor’s from Towson University in Maryland and a master’s from the University of Texas at Austin.
