Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)



CELEBRATING CFRE
Monthly Spotlight
Decades of service. Years of dedication.

Michele Brock, MBA, CFRE

Executive Director, The Catholic Foundation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque


Q&A with Michele

Q:    When did you obtain your CFRE?
A:    I received my CFRE in 2014.

Q:     How have you maintained your credentials?

A:    The CFRE must be recertified every three years, and this requires specific actions. This includes continuing education, ongoing work in the profession and projects showing impact on fundraising. Specifically, I attend programs with AFP and other professional groups as well as present now and then. The funds I help raise for the Catholic foundation as well as the strategic plans and communication initiatives we implement also apply to my recertification.

 

Q:     What are the benefits of CFRE in your opinion? 

A:     Fundraising has evolved tremendously over the decades. While it always has and will have the critical foundation of relationships, the research behind it informs fundraisers of how to best communicate with people when building those relationships. Having the CFRE shows the commitment to donors that I do my best to understand them and communicate with them from both an individual and a bigger-picture perspective. 


Q:     What is one piece of advice for anyone in fundraising today?
A:     A piece of advice is to never stop learning. It's said a lot, and can't be overstated, and so I'll offer another piece: don't be afraid to pick up the phone after learning about a donor when it's time to make that call. If you've done your donor research and prep, how the call goes hinges more on the donor, which is the point. It's about them and their interest in the nonprofit; it's not about you. Once it's framed that way, it puts it all into perspective.



CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW

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.

ANSI Accreditation

In 2017, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited CFRE certification under the ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 standard for personnel certification programs, making the CFRE credential the world’s only accredited certification for philanthropic fundraising professionals.

ANSI accreditation is the hallmark of a rigorous, high-quality certification program. Accreditation by ANSI means that the CFRE credential’s global significance is recognized by other worldwide accrediting bodies with which ANSI has multilateral recognition agreements.

Reach and Scope

More than 7,200 fundraising professionals from over 20 countries are currently CFREs. They work throughout all segments of the nonprofit sector including healthcare, education, and the arts, where they bring adherence to rigorous standards to all aspects of their work.

CFRE is poised to expand its reach in the coming years, growing philanthropic sector recognition of the CFRE credential and growing in service to certificants and partner organizations in the sector.

Differing Types of Workplace Credentials and Certifications

The CFRE is a third-party certification that assesses fundraising competence. Learn more about how a third-party certification differs from other types of workplace certificates, certifications, and licenses in this video from ANSI.

LEARN MORE HERE!


Eastern Iowa Chapter CFREs

Brenda K. Haefner, CFRE
Dawn Brouwers, CFRE
Eric S. Weiler, CFRE
Helen B. Arnold, CFRE
Hilery S Livengood, CFRE, MA, BA
Jason S. Wright, CFRE
Jeannette Archer-Simons, CFRE
Jenifer Vick, CFRE
Jody Pellerin, CFRE
Julie Coppock, CFRE
Kelly Allen, CFRE
Laura Booth CFRE
Lois Ann Buntz, CFRE, MSW, ASCW, LCSW
Lorrie Erusha, CFRE, MOL
Mary Klinger, CFRE
Megan Johnson, CFRE
Melissa Pence, CFRE
Michele Ellen Brock, CFRE, MBA


Is your name missing? Please let us know if you’ve achieved your CFRE credentials so we can acknowledge your accomplishment. Email the chapter administrator at afpeasterniowachapter@gmail.com.