Want to learn more about becoming certified as a Canadian Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)? Join our free webinar on Thursday, September 10. Click here for details and to register.
For fundraising professionals, it can feel overwhelming and scary to navigate the Covid-19 landscape. The pressure is on for our organizations to stay financially viable. In our current reality, donors, foundation partners, and corporate sponsors may not have the capacity to give as they once did.
What’s a fundraiser to do?
Take control of your knowledge
Fundraising knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you can raise. If you’ve thought about earning a certification to solidify your mastery of fundraising best practices, now is the hour to invest in yourself. Attaining a certification signals to your donors, colleagues, board members, and grant partners you know your stuff.
Certifications benefit job seekers
A certification can prove invaluable when you’re on the job hunt. When hiring managers are staring down a stack of resumes, you need to ensure yours rises to the top.
Most of us have had the experience of interviewing someone who seemed perfect for a position, but then floundered once hired. It’s painful for all involved.
That’s why organizations want every assurance they are making the right hiring decision. Studies have shown hiring the wrong person could cost the employer anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 times the annual salary of the position. Yikes!
Every potential employer needs to know you have what it takes to get the job done.
Holding a certification demonstrates you are a lifelong learner dedicated to fundraising best practices. For job seekers, a certification gives you a viable edge over other applicants. It signals you’re a fundraising professional that takes the time to keep your knowledge fresh while being dedicated to bringing excellence to your work.
Certification shores up your knowledge
Pursuing a certification often requires participation in courses as well as study time. This means you’ll learn about aspects of fundraising outside of what you normally do day-in, day-out.
This fortifies your knowledge while acquainting you with proven approaches and tools you can take back to the office.
Everyone experiences curve balls in their work. A certification can help you feel more confident and prepared to prevail no matter what gets thrown your way.
Having a certification is especially valuable for managers and directors who want to set a positive example for their team. By pursuing a certification, your direct reports as well as your boss will have increased confidence in your ability to lead and meet goals.
A boost to building your network
Holders of the same certificate often have virtual or in-person opportunities to network. Think of it a bit as a club where the entry fee is being certified.
This earned opportunity to network with other professionals who take their career as seriously as you can be a key step to forging long-lasting connections you wouldn’t be able to make otherwise.
The stronger your professional network, the more resilient you’ll be should you find yourself looking for a job, in need of sage advice, or requiring a sounding board outside of your organisation.
A certification for fundraising professionals
More than 1,000 fundraisers in Canada currently hold the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification. The CFRE is the only globally-recognised, accredited certification for fundraising professionals. Its core tenants are promoting confidence, ethics, and professionalism in fundraising.
Many CFREs see holding the certification as a win-win-win for themselves, their employers, and other stakeholders.
CFRE International board member Liz LeClair, based in Halifax, sheds light on what motivated her to become a CFRE. “I pursued my CFRE to validate my expertise as a professional fundraiser. I believe certification of our profession is key to earning public trust in fundraising,” she says.
Requirements to become a CFRE
There are two key pieces to attaining the CFRE—the application and the exam.
The online application is where candidates enter information about their professional practice (time in fundraising), professional performance (funds raised), and education.
More information about the initial certification requirements is available on the CFRE website.
It pays to become a CFRE
Fundraising isn’t static. Just as you would expect your accountant to keep up to date with the latest tax codes, stakeholders want to know your fundraising skill set is current.
Robust skills equate to enhanced pay.
The Association of Fundraising Professional’s 2019 Compensation and Benefits Report found that in Canada, the average compensation is $111,707 for CFREs who work at least 30 hours a week versus $86,537 for individuals who don’t have their CFRE.
Join us for a webinar about the value of CFRE certification
On 10 September, CharityVillage will host a free webinar exploring how CFRE certification can help your career. Members of the CFRE International team will show you how to get started on your CFRE application then walk you through the requirements, costs, and answer your questions during a live Q&A. Click here to register.
Ashley Gatewood is the Communications and Marketing Manager for CFRE International. Based in Baltimore, Ashley Gatewood 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 certification and how it can help elevate fundraising professionals’ careers.
