Diversity Discussions—Is CFRE for Me?

Highlights from the June 17, 2010 Diversity Discussions Meeting

On June 17, the Diversity Committee of the AFP Chicago Chapter held a round table discussion on "Is CFRE for Me?" – the first in a series of Diversity Discussions. The panelists were Melanie Frazier CFRE, Director of Development at CommunityHealth; Rebecca Hunter CFRE, Chief Development Officer at Cancer Wellness Center; and Tanya Pietrkowski CFRE, Associate Director of Development at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

The panelists discussed their personal experiences achieving the CFRE certification, and how it fit within their different career paths. The discussion also focused on how to build a more diverse pipeline of fundraising professionals who pursue the CFRE. Melanie pointed out that based on statistics on the CFRE website, she realized that she would be one of about 50 African Americans nation-wide to obtain their CFRE. Melanie found it was important to achieve this goal because it would give her "a leg-up" in her career, and because she wants to change the perception that "minorities are seen as recipients of fundraising, not cultivators of it."

Tanya also noted that it was important to think broadly about increasing diversity in the CFRE ranks. "Development is a big, expansive field with many different roles, some of them with responsibilities outside of development. However, if you have a long-term vision for what you want to do in fundraising, you should go for it regardless of what your current title is," she elaborated.

The importance of the CFRE is to provide an internationally recognized credential to fundraising professionals, which comes with tangible benefits. Rebecca, who will teach a CFRE Review Course July 14-15, brought up that it is "statistically proven that people with the CFRE make more money during their career." Panelists discussed resources for passing the CFRE, including the upcoming class, working in study groups, sharing notes with other AFP members and asking them about their experience pursuing the CFRE, purchasing study books, and simply starting the process by checking out the CFRE website.