Real Deal Fundraising
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Connect
    • Testimonials
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Thoughts for Thursday: The CFRE Exam

7/21/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
I made a critical error when I was preparing for my CFRE exam.

I decided not to study at all.

I took the test cold and although I'd been a well-trained advancement professional for over 10 years, I failed by just a few points. I'm a textbook over-achiever and it was big blow to my ego. 

The truth is that it is a very rigorous exam. 
The questions are structured in a different way from most exam questions that you likely have experience with. For instance the test will not ask you: "Why should you start a donor relations program?" Instead it will ask you: "What is the FIRST step you should take in formulating a donor relations program?" Out of 4-5 multiple choice answers, 2-3 of them will be correct answers but only one is the FIRST step that you should take.

The exam is designed to assess your ability as a fundraising professional to discern areas of gray. As another example,  a question might be: "What is the most important aspect of marketing planned giving opportunities to your prospects?" or "What is the first action you should take if you uncover (this or that) unethical action?" In most cases, multiple answers will be technically correct, but the exam is looking for the most important or the first priority. 

So what did I do after I failed my test? Well, after I finished being angry with myself and feeling sorry for myself, I registered for the next testing window (3 months). I purchased the CFRE Review Course book from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). It costs $200-$250. It was well worth it though, because it helped me to review areas of development in which I was weaker and most importantly provided sample exam questions so I could get more accustomed to this unique examination style.

​My recommendation for anyone preparing for the CFREexam would be:
  1. Take the exam seriously and begin preparing for the exam about a month or six weeks before testing.
  2. Acquire study materials that provide you with sample questions so you can prepare for this uniquely structure exam.

If you are a practicing fundraiser who has broad experience in several areas of development, I don't think you always needs to go through a two-day review course or read 18 different fundraising books. You just need to be prepared for the structure of this particular exam and be well-versed in most areas of development.

I can honestly say the process of certifying as a fundraising executive made me a better advancement professional and caused me to hone my skills in areas where I wasn't strong. In particular, the testing experience gave me the occasion to learn more about fundraising ethics. Becoming a CFRE is tough but it is worth it to acquire the designation. 

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about the CFRE process or exam. I'd be interested to hear whether you want to become a CFRE and why. What's stopping you or slowing you down?

​And subscribe if you find this content helpful?

1 Comment
Marcy DiBlasio link
9/21/2016 07:21:21 pm

I took the test over 23 years ago (with a pencil and paper) and passed on the first try...after months of studying. I don't regret the time and energy I put into it at all. I would also recommend a study group if there are enough people in your area preparing at the same time.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Jessica Cloud, CFRE

    I've been called the Tasmanian Devil of fundraising and I'm here to talk shop with you. 

    Subscribe

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    Advancement Services
    Alumni Relations
    Annual Giving
    Apps
    Asking
    Board Relations
    Books
    Budget
    Caller Training
    Career
    Case Building
    CFRE
    Communications
    Contact Rates Series
    Covid19
    Crisis Response
    Dance
    Data Integrity
    Data Research
    Development
    Direct Mail
    Donor Events
    Donor Relations
    E Books
    E-books
    Fiscal Year End
    Flash Mob
    Free Resources
    Fundraising
    FUNdraising Friday
    Geekery
    Giving Days
    Giving Societies
    Giving Tuesday
    Graphic Design
    Impact
    In Depth
    In-depth
    Interview
    Lobby
    Love Your Career
    Major Gifts
    Management
    Motivation Mondays
    Online
    Phonathon
    Productivity
    Public Speaking
    Quizzes
    Self Care
    Social Media
    Strategic Planning
    Student Debt
    Team Building
    TED Talks
    Telefund
    Thoughts For Thursday
    Thoughts-for-thursday
    Travel Hacks
    Travel-hacks
    Trip Planning
    Tuesdays Tip
    Tuesdays-tip
    Video
    Work From Home
    Young Alumni

    RSS Feed

What Folks Are Saying

 Jessica has been a wonderful colleague and mentor over the years.  In the beginning of my annual giving career, I found her expertise, experience and willingness to help, invaluable.  Her advice and custom phonathon spreadsheets had a direct impact on our phonathon’s success and my ultimate promotion.  As I progress in my career, I continue to value her insight and professionalism." 

​- Ross Imbler, Director of Annual Giving, Lewis and Clark Law School
 Ross Imbler

Contact Us

Photos used under Creative Commons from ZERGE_VIOLATOR, FindYourSearch, Teddy Mafia, slightly everything, COD Newsroom, Howdy, I'm H. Michael Karshis, smoorenburg, derrickbrutel, Matthew Paul Argall, TP studio, craiglea123, wuestenigel, davidmulder61, baranco1, Editor B
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Connect
    • Testimonials