About CFRE

Our Vision

To be the premier global provider of professional certification of proficiency and practice in fund raising and to position the CFRE as the primary credential for career fundraisers for practitioners, employers, and the public.

Our Mission

As stewards of the public trust, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International certifies fundraising professionals who demonstrate the knowledge, skills and commitment to the highest standards of ethical and professional practice in serving the philanthropic sector.

CFRE International fulfills this mission by establishing and administering a voluntary certification process based on current and valid standards that measure competency in the practice of philanthropic fundraising.

In furtherance of its mission, CFRE International promotes voluntary certification, in dialogue with government and other bodies globally, as the preferred alternative to licensure and/or government regulation.

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.

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 programme 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 organisation 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 programme and its certificants in order to build bridges among fundraising professionals.

Service - We engage in continuous organisational review and improvement in order to deliver our programme that meets and exceeds expectations. The Board of Directors is comprised of eleven individuals, ten who are currently certified fundraising professionals and one member of the public.  The organisation is supported by a network of dedicated volunteers serving on committees and task forces.

Founded in 2001, 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.

Between 1981 and 1996, two leading professional associations had their own separate certification programs, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy offered the CAHP and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, formerly NSFRE, offered the CFRE. 

In 1997 for the betterment of the entire profession, those two organisations merged their programs to form the independent CFRE Professional Certification Board, now CFRE International.  Following the creation of CFRE International, other leading philanthropic associations joined in support of the program.