Cut and paste the text in the sample email below to share with your employer.
___________________________________________________________________
Dear [Decision maker’s name],
I want to bring my best to our development team everyday so we succeed in reaching our fundraising goals.
That is why I would like to speak with you about earning the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. For more than 40 years, the CFRE credential has ensured fundraising professionals are equipped with the latest best practice fundraising knowledge to meet fundraising challenges head on.
Our board, funders, and donors want assurance we are operating ethically and efficiently. Being a CFRE tangibly demonstrates my commitment to confidence, ethics, and professionalism in all areas of my work.
With more nonprofits chasing fewer charitable funding opportunities plus donors feeling the economic squeeze, there has never been a better time for me to strengthen my fundraising knowledge to help our organization soar.
Below is information on how CFREs contribute to an organization’s success.
I would like to ask that professional development funds be allocated to assist in paying for the CFRE certification fee. It is an investment in my knowledge that will return dividends to our team.
If you would like to set up a time to speak more in-depth, I would be happy to do so.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
How Having a CFRE on Our Team Benefits Our Organization
1. Having a professional certification proves I have 360-degree knowledge of fundraising best practices. The CFRE process strengthens my know-how of fundraising’s most important areas so I can bring the highest level of skill to our organization. I will be poised to take on greater responsibility and be more readily capable to fill in for team members during times of absence or role vacancies.
2. Having a CFRE on the team helps us train staff on current best practices. With the knowledge I will acquire through the CFRE process, our organization can have full confidence I am training staff to adhere to today’s guidelines.
3. When fundraising staff have their CFRE credential, it builds trust with donors, grant makers, board members, and other stakeholders. It proves our dedication to ethics and professionalism is unwavering. We can include on grant applications and in donor conversations that we have CFREs on our team working to the highest standards.
4. The CFRE credential is global, helping us ensure we do right by donors and partners across the world.
5. Every CFRE makes a formal pledge to agree to uphold the Donor Bill of Rights, further showing my commitment to best practices and ethical, donor-centric fundraising.
6. Every person who passes the CFRE Exam demonstrates their mastery of best practice fundraising. The CFRE Exam has 200 questions across six key fundraising Knowledge Domains.
7. Fundraising staff who become CFREs have access to the CFREs Only section of the online community, CFRE Central. This is an active community where CFREs turn to one another with questions and advice. Being able to tap into this global knowledge bank gives us new perspectives and helps us learn from our peers.
