A voluntary credential recognized worldwide, the CFRE signifies a confident, ethical fundraising professional.
It is how today’s fundraiser shows accountability, service, and commitment to making a difference for good. We believe the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential is vital to a fundraiser’s professional growth and that it sets the standard for ethical practice in the sector.
Reach and Scope
More than 7,800 fundraising professionals from over 28 countries are currently CFREs. They work throughout all segments of the nonprofit sector including healthcare, education, and the arts, where they bring adherence to rigorous standards to all aspects of their work.
What We Stand for
Our Mission
CFRE International certifies experienced fundraising professionals aspiring to the highest standards of ethics, competence, and service to the philanthropic sector.
Our Vision
A world where philanthropy is practiced in an environment of trust, respect, and accountability.
Our Values
CFRE International’s values are the principles that guide our daily work—how we interact with each other and those we serve. These values guide our board, volunteers, and staff in making ethical decisions that affect candidates, certificants, and the profession of fundraising.
Service
We engage in continuous organizational review and improvement to deliver our program in a way that exceeds expectations.
Impartiality
We adhere to an objective, fair, and consistently applied process for collecting and evaluating information for decision-making that treats all people with equity.
Integrity
We ensure fairness, accuracy, validity, and reliability in the development and administration of the certification program to ensure it meets the highest standards as defined by experts in the field.
Accountability
We accept responsibility individually and collectively to create a quality, sustainable organization that operates in an honest and transparent manner and is prudent in the use of financial and volunteer resources.
Diversity
We embrace and include the strengths, skills, and perspectives that contribute to the development of the certification program and its certificants to build bridges among fundraising professionals.
