Have you been in fundraising for five years? Do you thrive on helping organizations achieve their goals? Do you keep current with fundraising trends? Has it been awhile since you took an exam? Is giving back to your profession important to you?

Test Content Outline

The Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Examination is designed as a practice-based exam for practitioners to assess mastery of the six core knowledge areas. The Examination is neither designed nor intended to cover any particular aspect of the fund development process in depth.

The examination consists of 225 multiple- choice questions. (25 of these questions are pre-test items and do not affect a candidate's score.)

Candidates can review this outline to assist them in identifying knowledge areas they are familiar with and those areas which may require some review. If a candidate identifies an area where review is needed, chapters or publications from the Resource Reading List can be selected to help in that review.

Click here for a print-ready version of the Test Content Outline (PDF)

I. Current and Prospective Donor Research (16.5% - 33 Items)

Develop a prospect list by identifying individuals and groups who have the capacity and propensity to give in order to qualify candidates for further research and cultivation efforts
Analyse the prospect list using characteristics such as interest, values, giving history, and relationship to the organisation in order to select potential donors for particular projects
Implement and utilise a data management system that stores information about prospects to enable retrieval and analysis
Rate prospects in categories of giving potential in order to prioritise and plan solicitations

II. Securing the Gift (18.5% - 37 Items)

Develop a compelling case for support by involving volunteers, staff, and other groups in order to communicate the rationale for supporting the organisation's fundraising programme
Design and conduct studies and/or surveys to plan and evaluate specific aspects of a fundraising programme
Design a comprehensive solicitation programme in order to generate financial support for the organisation's purpose
Design and conduct training programmes for volunteers, staff, and other groups using various training methodologies in order to increase solicitation effectiveness
Ask for and secure gifts from prospects in order to generate financial support for the organisation's purpose
Prepare donor-centred solicitation materials in order to influence and facilitate informed gift decisions
Evaluate the solicitation programme using appropriate criteria and methodology in order to produce accurate analytic reports for effective decision making

III. Relationship Building (25% - 50 Items)

Initiate and strengthen relationships with all constituents through a systematic cultivation plan designed to increase support of the organisation over the long term
Acknowledge and recognise gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and appropriate to the mission and values of the organisation
Develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan in order to inform constituents and identified markets about the mission, vision, and values of the organisation, its funding priorities, and gift opportunities
Inform constituents about the value of giving in order to promote a culture of philanthropy

IV. Volunteer Involvement (10.5% - 21 items)

Create a structured process for the identification, recruitment, evaluation, recognition, and replacement of volunteers in order to strengthen the organisation's effectiveness
Empower and support volunteers by providing orientation, training, and specific job descriptions in order to enhance the volunteers' effectiveness
Engage volunteers in prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation activities in order to raise funds more effectively and efficiently
Participate in recruiting experienced and diverse leadership on boards and committees in order to ensure that these groups are representative of and responsive to the community they serve
Involve volunteers in the planning, development, and execution of a broad range of activities in order to maximise commitment to the mission and goals of the organisation
Delineate the roles of volunteer board members and staff in order to distinguish who have governance and management responsibilities

V. Management (20% - 40 items)

Participate in the organisation's strategic planning process in order to ensure that philanthropy is an integral part of the strategic plan
Design and implement short-and long- term fundraising plans and budgets in order to support the organisation's strategic goals
Conduct performance analysis fo the fundraising programme using accepted and appropriate standards in order to assess efficiency and effectiveness
Recruit, train and support staff by applying human resource principles in order to foster professionalism and achieve the goals of the organisation
Supervise staff by applying appropriate human resource principles in order to foster a productive, team-oriented work environment and enhanced personal performance
Contract for various services, when appropriate, in order to optimise the efforts of the fundraising function
Create gift acceptance and acknowledgement policies in order to reflect the values of the organisation and satisfy legal and ethical standards

VI. Accountability (9.5% - 19 items)

Report to constituencies the sources, uses, and management of donated funds in order to preserve and enhance confidence in the organisation
Ensure that the intent of gifts is honoured so that public trust is established and preserved
Ensure that the solicitation of gifts is conducted in accordance with the regulatory environment in which fundraising activities are conducted
Clarify, implement, and monitor donors' instructions by ensuring that allocations are appropriate and documented in the organisation's financial records
Comply with all reporting requirements and regulations in order to demonstrate commitment to accountability and transparency