Since I began recruiting in 2008, I've often been asked about educational pathways for fundraisers and the value of certifications like the CFRE. Reviewing my past emails and blog posts, my perspective remains largely unchanged.
Full disclosure: I didn’t have a CFRE when I was a fundraiser. With a young family—one child and another on the way—I had to choose between the CFRE and an MBA. I chose the latter, which eventually led me to talent management, a path that proved right for me. I’ve always believed in education paired with work experience, likely because I built my own career that way. In my second semester, a class project led to my first job with Big Brothers Big Sisters. I became their summer student and later their Fundraising and Marketing Manager, working for five years while completing my bachelor’s degree. By the time I graduated, I had both academic credentials and five years of experience, which allowed me to step into a more senior role immediately.
I don’t believe in relying on education or credentials alone, without a track record. There’s often an assumption that completing a certification or degree will automatically lead to a higher-paying job, but that’s not a given—especially not in fundraising. I like to compare fundraising to real estate. In British Columbia, you can become a licensed real estate agent in under a year, but that license doesn’t guarantee income. You first need to build a network and a record of success. Fundraising is similar: demonstrating a successful fundraising record, combined with theoretical knowledge and certification, is a powerful combination.
I’ve worked in organizations where an MBA was seen as more valuable than a CFRE. The two credentials highlight different strengths. An MBA provides a foundation for executive roles involving team leadership, board collaboration, and budget management. For a fundraiser establishing themselves, a CFRE demonstrates dedication, mastery of best practices, and discipline.
The CFRE is the credential of our profession. For decades, we’ve worked to have fundraising recognized as a valued profession, and certifications help legitimize this field. While there may be room for improvement in the CFRE program or process—possibly some modernization—this doesn’t mean the credential should be dismissed. Many educational programs, from certificates to MBAs, could benefit from updates without needing to overhaul their foundations.
Education empowers people to create better lives, promotes access, and fosters equality. But education alone, or simply having letters after your name, isn’t a magic bullet. It doesn’t prove you’re an effective fundraiser. You might know the theory, but can you make the ask and close the deal?
Throughout my career, I’ve met brilliant fundraisers with and without the CFRE. Since moving into recruiting, I’ve observed an increase in successful fundraisers obtaining their CFRE, raising its reputation and perceived value. This trend, I believe, will only continue. While my answer to this question might have been a little different 15 years ago, the essence remains the same: a track record combined with education and credentials is a winning formula for a successful fundraising career.