1. TO CERTIFY OR NOT
TO CERTIFY – KEYS TO
BUILDING CREDIBILITY
Tim Bynum, CFRE
Director of Development
West Texas A&M University
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2. SLIDESHARE.NET/TIMBYNUM
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3. The Issue
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4. Fundraiser vs. Donor
Stereotypical Fundraiser
• Young
• 41% are under the age of 30
• Recent Graduate
• Inexperienced
• Entry Level
• Avg. fundraiser under 30 has
been at their most recent job
1.6 years
Stereotypical Donor
• Well known
• Highly successful
• Wealthy
• Not young 
• Baby Boomers (50-68)
• 43% of all individual giving
• Elderly (over age 68)
• 27% of all individual giving
• Plugged in/Connected
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5. The Good News
• The reason a stereotypical donor develops a relationship
with a stereotypical fundraiser has ALMOST nothing to do
with the fundraiser and everything to do with the cause
that they both are passionate about.
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6. Nature of the Relationship
• Institution first
• You‟re the fundraiser, they‟re the prospective donor
• You‟re not out to be their friend…
• In many cases, you are a facilitator of other relationships
for the Donor
• RETHINK THE ASK!
• Everything you were told about when and how to request a gift is
wrong?
• Currents – February „14
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7. Why is your role important?
Regardless of the nature of the relationship,
your institution has entrusted you with the
management of it.
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8. How do I…???
• Overcome built-in barriers in a relationship driven field?
• Build/Earn Trust
• Be Dependable
• Establish Credibility
• Demonstrate Knowledge
• Increase your stock
• Be active at your institution and in your community
• Be Interesting
• Developing personally is critical to your professional success
• Cultivate Partners
• A donor‟s connection to the institution cannot stop with you
• Follow up and follow through
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9. CERTIFICATION
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10. What Distinguishes CFRE?
• Certification Requires:
• Fundraising Experience
• Continuing Education
• Demonstrated Fundraising Performance
• Community Service
• Candidate adhere to the International Statement of Ethical
Principles in Fundraising, Donor Bill of Rights, and CFRE
International‟s Accountability Standards
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11. CFRE Quick Facts
• Over 5,700 certificants worldwide
• 322 in Texas as of February 2014
• 69% of certificants are female
• 31% of certificants are male
• 25% of certificants work in education
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12. 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.
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13. 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.
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14. 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 organization and
must demonstrate this throughout their
certification.
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15. 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.
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16. Why Pursue Professional
Certification?
• Credibility. CFRE certification serves as an
impartial, third party endorsement of your
knowledge and experience against international
standards in philanthropy. It adds to your
credibility as a fundraiser and sets you apart from
other professionals.
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17. Why Pursue Professional
Certification?
• Achievement. CFRE certification is a reflection of
personal achievement because the individual has
displayed mastery of his or her field by meeting
requirements and standards set in philanthropy.
• Commitment. Receiving CFRE certification shows your
peers, supervisors and, in turn, donors your commitment
to your chosen career and your ability to perform to set
standards. CFRE certification program seeks to grow,
promote and develop certified professionals, who can
stand “out in front” as role models in the fundraising field.
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18. Why Pursue Professional
Certification?
• Advancement. CFRE certification can give you the
“edge” when being considered for a promotion or other
career opportunities. The CFRE clearly identifies you as
an employee who has demonstrated mastery of
fundraising principles and techniques based on accepted
best practices.
• 34% of candidates cite job advancement and increased
pay as the top reason for pursuing certification
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19. Why Pursue Professional
Certification?
• Recognition. As a CFRE certificant, you can expect
increased recognition from your peers for taking that extra
step in your professional career.
• Personal Satisfaction. CFRE certification is a step
toward defining yourself beyond a job description or
academic degree while gaining a sense of personal
satisfaction.
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20. Why Pursue Professional
Certification?
• Responsibility. Knowledge. Skills.
• 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.
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21. Really, why do this???
• In the U.S., CFRE certificants earn nearly
$22,000 more than their non-certified colleagues
• Figures courtesy of the 2013 Compenation and Benefits Study by the Association of
Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
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22. Certification Process
• Application – a written application with a point-system to
demonstrate your experience – online
• Examination – a standardized, multiple-choice exam of
200 questions
• Accountability Standards – promoting integrity, ethical
behavior and the Donor Bill of Rights
• Recertification – reassessment every three years
required to continue to be certified
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23. 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
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24. 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 the past 5 years
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25. Professional Practice Requirements
• 60 points required (1 month = 1 point)
• Must document 5 years of full-time, paid professional experience in
fundraising during the past 8 years
• At least 50% of duties must be directly related to
fundraising – this can include research and grant
writing
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26. 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
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27. 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
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28. The Online Application
• Go to www.cfre.org, click on “My CFRE”, 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 system allows
you
to log in and out of the form, saving information as you go.
• The form calculates your required points and turns green when you
have documented enough points.
• When you are ready to apply and have your application evaluated,
submit your application online to CFRE International.
• Creating an online account is free. You pay application and testing
fees only when you submit your application.
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29. 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 schedule an exam appointment 30
days prior to exam OR receive request for additional
information.
• Make personal testing reservation online.
• Write exam at a convenient computer-based testing center of
your choosing.
• Receive preliminary scores upon completing the exam.
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30. CFRE Examination
• 200 multiple-choice questions (25 of which are pre-test
items and do not affect your score)
• Developed by current, certified fundraising professionals
in the field in conjunction with a professional testing
agency
• The exam is global and is the same no matter where in
the world you test.
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31. Exam Content
• Prospective and Current Donor Research (28 items – 16%)
• Securing the Gift (34 items – 19%)
• Relationship Building (48 items – 27%)
• Volunteer Involvement (14 items – 8%)
• Leadership and Management (32 items – 18%)
• Ethics and Accountability (19 items – 11%)
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32. Exam Cost
2014 Fees
• $849 Standard Fee
• $680 Participating Member (ex. AFP)
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33. How to Prepare
• Utilize resources at cfre.org
• Test content outline
• Resource Reading List
• Sample texts from the test
• AFP‟s CFRE Review Course!!!
• Austin, TX : June 9-10, 2014
• Member $425, Non-Member $525
• Hurst, TX : June 11-12, 2014
• Member $390, Non-Member $490
• afpnet.org
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34. QUESTIONS
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