Top-Quality CFRE Exam Review Guide with Fundraising
Certification Questions and Answers 2025/2026
Marketing - a formal definition - correct answer the process of gathering,
recording, and analyzing information pertaining to the marketing of goods
and services
Marketing - a simpler definition - correct answer the process of finding out
the wants and needs of current and potential markets
Rosso's Concentric Circles - outer circle - correct answer People with
similar interests
Rosso's Concentric Circles - at the core - who are these primary
stakeholders? - correct answer Major Donors, Board, Management Staff
(these people have the responsibility to bring those in the outer circles
closer)
Rosso's Concentric Circles - second to outer circle - correct answer
Former Participants
Rosso's Concentric Circles - closes to core - correct answer Clients,
Members, Employees, Volunteers, General Donors
Critical Factors for a Philanthropy-Friendly Environment - correct answer
donor-focused research... Targeted cases, constituents, methods...
Strategic communications... Stewardship - the most important of all
The critical balance - correct answer Development professionals must find
a way to balance the needs of the community with the interests/needs of
donors and the needs of the organization
,Prospecting: the definition - correct answer The systematic acquisition
and recording of data that forms the basis for establishing, maintaining, and
expanding the long-term gift relationship, with the ultimate goal of
converting donors into major gift donors (looking for the fundraising gold!)
7 points of constituency development - correct answer Identify fundable
projects (part of org's strategic plan and objectives)... Match prospects to
projects (use Rosso's model)... Conduct research in ways that are:
thorough and realistic, cumulative and ongoing (keep current), organized,
ethical and confidential... Identify opportunities to involve prospects
What's the difference in a Prospect (suspect) and a Qualified Prospect? -
correct answer Prospect/suspect is a possible source of support whose
philanthropic interests appear to be a match with your organization, whose
ability to give, interests, and linkages have not been qualified via
research..... Whereas a Qualified Prospect is a prospect who continues to
qualify as a logical source of support for the organization throughout a
research, evaluation, and cultivation process
The best research method depends on... - correct answer the org's scope,
resources and objectives... And on whether prospects are individuals,
business/corp's, foundations, gov agencies, or other nonprofits
Research methods to consider... - correct answer mailed/electronic
questionnaires... Internet databases... In person interviews... Telephone
interviews
Four sources of information for Research - correct answer 1. Personal
contacts (conversations, interviews, surveys)... 2. Publications/reports
(journals, newspapers, directories, magazines, philanthropic directories,
annual reports, corp/foundation community involvement reports... 3.
,Participation records (event attendees, program participants, those who
inquire)... 4. Public information
Information to include in a useful prospect profile - correct answer
complete contact info, biographical data, business history, giving history
with your org, cultivation/solicitation contact records, publicly available
giving info from other orgs, sources of info checked for prospect and most
recent review dates, general and specific interests
Research pitfalls - correct answer putting off research until you "have
time", expecting interns or new volunteers to know what to gather, sending
out cultivation/solicitation teams with incorrect information, trying to find out
everything about everybody
Prospect/donor profiles help you select the right... - correct answer right
person... To ask the right person... At the right time... In the right way... For
the right amount
Inquiries to use in researching foundations... - correct answer is there
support for similar agencies?... Does the foundation clearly state support
for the type of project and/or contribution sought?... Is funding provided in
the org's geographic area?... Is the request amount compatible with prior
giving history?
Inquiries to use in researching corporations... - correct answer are board
members affiliated with company?... Are services used by employees and
dependents?... Are current donors/volunteers employed or have
affiliations?... Does the organization purchase company products?... Does
corporate interest match products/services?... Are donation decisions made
locally or at corporate level?... Are needs and priorities of two entities
aligned?
, Using electronic data enhancement... - correct answer analysis of giving
history and donor information... Screening of prospect/donors to identify
"wealth indicators"... Data gathering from a variety of sources enhances the
in-house database... Resulting in a need to be more strategic.
3 primary types of giving campaigns - correct answer Annual Giving,
Capital/Major Campaigns, Planned Giving
What is the "workhorse" fundraising tool of every org? - correct answer
Annual Giving - typically provides operating support for ongoing programs.
Essential first stage that precedes all others.
Which type of giving campaign is ideal for first-time donors to get them
started, and for those you are seeking to upgrade? - correct answer
Annual Giving
What is the "special needs" fundraising campaign... Generally having a
specific purpose and running a specific time period? - correct answer
Capital/Major Campaign
Which type of campaign lays the groundwork for involving new volunteers
and donors and sets the stage for increased giving? - correct answer
Capital/Major Campaign
What is the bedrock on which fundraising campaigns are built, and which
supports and informs everything you do? - correct answer Research
Marketing emerges from which 2 plans? - correct answer the Strategic
Plan and the Development Plan
Certification Questions and Answers 2025/2026
Marketing - a formal definition - correct answer the process of gathering,
recording, and analyzing information pertaining to the marketing of goods
and services
Marketing - a simpler definition - correct answer the process of finding out
the wants and needs of current and potential markets
Rosso's Concentric Circles - outer circle - correct answer People with
similar interests
Rosso's Concentric Circles - at the core - who are these primary
stakeholders? - correct answer Major Donors, Board, Management Staff
(these people have the responsibility to bring those in the outer circles
closer)
Rosso's Concentric Circles - second to outer circle - correct answer
Former Participants
Rosso's Concentric Circles - closes to core - correct answer Clients,
Members, Employees, Volunteers, General Donors
Critical Factors for a Philanthropy-Friendly Environment - correct answer
donor-focused research... Targeted cases, constituents, methods...
Strategic communications... Stewardship - the most important of all
The critical balance - correct answer Development professionals must find
a way to balance the needs of the community with the interests/needs of
donors and the needs of the organization
,Prospecting: the definition - correct answer The systematic acquisition
and recording of data that forms the basis for establishing, maintaining, and
expanding the long-term gift relationship, with the ultimate goal of
converting donors into major gift donors (looking for the fundraising gold!)
7 points of constituency development - correct answer Identify fundable
projects (part of org's strategic plan and objectives)... Match prospects to
projects (use Rosso's model)... Conduct research in ways that are:
thorough and realistic, cumulative and ongoing (keep current), organized,
ethical and confidential... Identify opportunities to involve prospects
What's the difference in a Prospect (suspect) and a Qualified Prospect? -
correct answer Prospect/suspect is a possible source of support whose
philanthropic interests appear to be a match with your organization, whose
ability to give, interests, and linkages have not been qualified via
research..... Whereas a Qualified Prospect is a prospect who continues to
qualify as a logical source of support for the organization throughout a
research, evaluation, and cultivation process
The best research method depends on... - correct answer the org's scope,
resources and objectives... And on whether prospects are individuals,
business/corp's, foundations, gov agencies, or other nonprofits
Research methods to consider... - correct answer mailed/electronic
questionnaires... Internet databases... In person interviews... Telephone
interviews
Four sources of information for Research - correct answer 1. Personal
contacts (conversations, interviews, surveys)... 2. Publications/reports
(journals, newspapers, directories, magazines, philanthropic directories,
annual reports, corp/foundation community involvement reports... 3.
,Participation records (event attendees, program participants, those who
inquire)... 4. Public information
Information to include in a useful prospect profile - correct answer
complete contact info, biographical data, business history, giving history
with your org, cultivation/solicitation contact records, publicly available
giving info from other orgs, sources of info checked for prospect and most
recent review dates, general and specific interests
Research pitfalls - correct answer putting off research until you "have
time", expecting interns or new volunteers to know what to gather, sending
out cultivation/solicitation teams with incorrect information, trying to find out
everything about everybody
Prospect/donor profiles help you select the right... - correct answer right
person... To ask the right person... At the right time... In the right way... For
the right amount
Inquiries to use in researching foundations... - correct answer is there
support for similar agencies?... Does the foundation clearly state support
for the type of project and/or contribution sought?... Is funding provided in
the org's geographic area?... Is the request amount compatible with prior
giving history?
Inquiries to use in researching corporations... - correct answer are board
members affiliated with company?... Are services used by employees and
dependents?... Are current donors/volunteers employed or have
affiliations?... Does the organization purchase company products?... Does
corporate interest match products/services?... Are donation decisions made
locally or at corporate level?... Are needs and priorities of two entities
aligned?
, Using electronic data enhancement... - correct answer analysis of giving
history and donor information... Screening of prospect/donors to identify
"wealth indicators"... Data gathering from a variety of sources enhances the
in-house database... Resulting in a need to be more strategic.
3 primary types of giving campaigns - correct answer Annual Giving,
Capital/Major Campaigns, Planned Giving
What is the "workhorse" fundraising tool of every org? - correct answer
Annual Giving - typically provides operating support for ongoing programs.
Essential first stage that precedes all others.
Which type of giving campaign is ideal for first-time donors to get them
started, and for those you are seeking to upgrade? - correct answer
Annual Giving
What is the "special needs" fundraising campaign... Generally having a
specific purpose and running a specific time period? - correct answer
Capital/Major Campaign
Which type of campaign lays the groundwork for involving new volunteers
and donors and sets the stage for increased giving? - correct answer
Capital/Major Campaign
What is the bedrock on which fundraising campaigns are built, and which
supports and informs everything you do? - correct answer Research
Marketing emerges from which 2 plans? - correct answer the Strategic
Plan and the Development Plan
