CFRE Roundtable
The A - Z of Becoming a CFRE
The Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification is accredited, globally recognized, and demonstrates your mastery of fundraising best practices.
CFREs earn on average 7 - 15% more than non-CFREs in the U.S. (Source 2020 AFP Compensation and Benefits Report). CFREs report greater professional opportunities and on-the-job confidence.
Roundtable participants are all AFP Yosemite Chapter members who recently were certified or recertified as a fund raising executive. They will discuss all aspects of the process.
CFRE: A voluntary credential that is 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 CFRE credential is vital to a fundraiser’s professional growth and that it sets the standard for ethical practice in the sector.
Presenters:
Tammy Menezes, CFRE; Melissa Van Diepen, CFRE; Jessica Vaughn, CFRE; and Jeff Porto, Jr., CFRE.
Tammy Menezes, CFRE is the Director of Operations at St. Joseph’s Church in Modesto, where her role has expanded to grow the digital ministry and support for the church, while overseeing parish operations. Although the Covid-impact on churches and other venues has been devastating, she is proud that her team has developed a digital marketing plan that resulted in a 40% growth in recurring giving and the largest digital faith-based engagement in the region. Prior to St. Joseph’s Church, she worked in regional elder abuse prevention and training, and was a director of marketing and sales for a construction company.
In 2013 Tammy achieved the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resource Management) and in 2015 was awarded the CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive designation.) She served as the AFP Yosemite President from 2013-2015, and has facilitated meetings at AFP Conferences in Puerto Rico and San Antonio, as well as providing local organization presentations. She values the professional collaboration of her AFP peers and the career growth AFP has provided.
Tammy holds a Bachelor’s degree from the City University of New York and is a proud alumna of Modesto Junior College. She lives on a small almond farm in the Wood Colony area with her husband, Jace, where they enjoy spending time with grandchildren, reading, and traveling.
Melissa Van Diepen, CFRE is a “valley girl”, growing up in Fresno and a proud graduate of California State University, Fresno (Go Dogs!) She finds fulfillment working for organizations with strong missions of service. She started her career in 1997 at The Modesto Bee and jumped into the non-profit pool in 2011 with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. During her tenure, she grew their signature program, Team In Training by 127% and launched three new endurance training programs. Melissa joined Community Hospice Foundation in 2015 and oversaw a team responsible for raising $1.3 million a year in support of end-of-life care for adults and children as well as grief services.
In 2021, Melissa joined the Stanislaus Community Foundation as Chief Philanthropy Officer where she oversees SCF’s asset development and marketing efforts with a focus on increasing the philanthropic impact of current donors and creating a culture of philanthropy that attracts future donors. She is the past-president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Yosemite Chapter. She lives in Modesto with her husband Doug and has two daughters, Abby, a sophomore at UCLA and Maddie, a senior at Thomas Downey High School.
Jessica Vaughan, CFRE has worked for Second Harvest of the Greater Valley over the last ten years. She has worked exclusively as the Director of Development, in charge of communications, fundraising, and marketing. She has extensive experience with relationship development, corporate and individual giving, event management, and social media marketing. Prior to her tenure at SHGV, Jessica worked in the banking industry, where she provided customer service, ensuring proper risk management and training and supervising staff. Jessica attended CSU Stanislaus, where she studied organizational communications. When she is not working with the food bank, she loves supporting local small businesses, photography, and being outdoors enjoying nature.
Jeff Porto, Jr., MPP, CFRE “fell into” the world of Philanthropy after being a political consultant in Silicon Valley on local government campaigns including helping the San Francisco 49ers build support for their new home in Santa Clara. He is in his second decade in Philanthropy in Higher Education and has raised millions of dollars, with a focus on major gifts serving as the Director of Development at Stanislaus State. Jeff was previously at the University of California, Merced for nearly a decade serving in the same role and in government relations. He received his CFRE in June 2021 and is always striving to strengthen the culture of philanthropy.
Jeff was “Made in the CSU” at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo where he received both his Masters in Public Policy and BA in History. He was an NCAA DI Cross Country and Track athlete at Poly winning conference championships, All West Region honors, and competed at the National Cross Country Championships.
Jeff has roots in the East Bay, is an avid fan of the A’s, Raiders, and Warriors and has lived predominately in the Central Valley. He and his spouse Leslie, who serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Merced, have two young children, Samantha and Hudson and two cats Buster and Madden.
Register below to receive a link to meeting materials.
AFP Members: $10.00
All others: $15.00
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This meeting approved for 1.5 CFRE CEUs
Top 10 Reasons to Become CFRE-Certified
1. Certification grants you more credibility. CFRE certification serves as an impartial, third-party endorsement of your knowledge and experience against international standards in philanthropy. In fact, 95% of CFREs say earning their CFRE enhanced their credibility with employers and clients.*
2. Certification can improve career opportunities and advancement. With 89% of CFREs reporting the certification has had an impact on providing enhanced professional opportunities, it is an investment that pays dividends.*
3. Certification prepares you for greater on-the-job responsibilities. CFRE certification is a clear indicator of your willingness to invest in your own professional development. Certified professionals are aware of the constantly changing environment around their profession and possess the desire to anticipate and respond to change.
4. Certification improves skills and knowledge. Typically, achieving CFRE certification requires training, study and “keeping up” with changes. CFRE certification showcases your individual mastery by confirming proficiency and knowledge in the field. CFRE certification also requires recertification every three years, proving you stay ahead of the curve in fundraising.
5. Certification may provide for greater earnings potential. Many fundraising professionals who have become CFRE certificants experience salary and wage increases based on their certification status. Studies show that on average CFRE certificants earn 10 – 25% more** than their non-certified counterparts. In addition, CFRE certificants are in high demand internationally.
6. Certification demonstrates your commitment to the fundraising profession. Receiving CFRE certification shows your peers, supervisors and, in turn, donors your commitment to your chosen career and your ability to perform to set standards.
7. Certification enhances the profession’s image. CFRE certification program seeks to grow, promote and develop certified professionals, who can stand “out in front” as role models in the fundraising field.
8. Certification reflects achievement. CFRE certification is a reflection of personal achievement because the individual has displayed mastery of his or her field by meeting requirements and standards set in philanthropy.
9. Certification builds self-esteem. CFRE certification is a step toward defining yourself beyond a job description or academic degree while gaining a sense of personal satisfaction. That’s why 99% of CFREs say the sense of personal achievement provided by CFRE certification has been valuable to their career.*
10. Certification offers greater recognition from peers. As a CFRE certificant, you can expect increased recognition from your peers for taking that extra step in your professional career.
If you're considering becoming a CFRE, don't miss this free Facebook Live recording where you'll get the scoop on all you need to know: elegibility requirements, how the application works, what the CFRE exam entails, how to study, recertification and more.