Top CFRE nonprofit leadership Exam Questions with
Completely Verified Answers Graded A+ 2025/2026
The case is driven by.? - correct answer the mission and strategic plan of
the org.
What describes the org's goals and objectives and covers the programs
and services it provides? - correct answer case for support
What are the 3 key elements of a case? - correct answer org's purpose,
content, focus
The case statement includes: - correct answer the org's services,
programs, objectives... How the fundraising goals support the org... The
ways the org will remain productive, the difference a donor's support will
make, what the org must do to improve/change its activities, aims and
value to society
Who said this?... The case statement is the one definitive piece of the
whole campaign. It tells all that needs to be told, answers all the important
questions, reviews the arguments for support, explains the proposed plan
for raising the money, and shows how gifts may be made, and who the
people are who vouch for the project, and who will give it leadership and
direction. - correct answer harold j seymour, 1935, noted fundraising
pioneer
Elements of the development process - correct answer developing the
case for support... Prospect research... Cultivation and constituency
development, solicitation strategies... Acknowledgement and recognition...
Gift management
,The development plan covers the same period as the - correct answer
organization's strategic plan (and is reviewed at least annually.)
Key elements of an operational plan - correct answer statement of
purpose... Strategic/financial goals... Policies related to goal... Budgeting...
Cultivation strategies... Solicitation strategies... Time frames... Entities
responsible for activities... Indicators of success... Monitoring
processes/systems
The pyramid of giving, from james greenfield, "evaluating and managing
the fund development process", 1999 - correct answer from bottom to top:
first time annual giving... Repeat annual giving... Special/major giving...
Major giving... Planned giving (this pyramid moves from "like" to "love" to
"trust")
Choosing which types of giving to emphasize depends on org needs. If you
have heavy operating costs and few capital requirements, then focus on -
correct answer annual and planned giving
3 reasons to keep information on donors' gifts - correct answer historical,
planning, accounting
What are the two types of major gifts a donor may make? - correct answer
capital campaign (specified capital need, within a specific time period) and
endowment (builds permanent funds to support work, not spent for current
operations or capital projects, typically built by planned gifts)
With the organization's strategic planning complete, the next step is the -
correct answer internal audit (pre-campaign)
, Pre-campaign activities/internal audit include: - correct answer org
planning (mission, direction, plans for next 5-10 years, long-range funding
implications), board leadership (recruitment, structure, involvement in
planning), administration and finance (personnel's understanding of dev
process, org's budget and financial projections, revenue/expense past
trends), development operations (staff size, experience, capabilities, goals,
record keeping, gift processing/ack system, prospect research,
cultivation/recognition programs, materials), donor base, volunteer
structure, public and donor relations
Another important pre campaign activity - correct answer feasibility study
to test campaign concept and gather data
Another important pre campaign activity - correct answer gift range table
reflecting approximate levels of giving and number of gifts required
Another important pre campaign activity - correct answer clear, agreed-
upon policies and guidelines for how campaign will run
What is the rule of thirds? - correct answer 10 gifts account for 1/3 of total,
next 90 gifts account for another 1/3, final 1/3 comes from everyone else.
While rule of thirds traditional approach can work, most modern campaigns
are using major gift models in which... - correct answer far fewer gifts are
responsible for much larger percentages of total. (not uncommon for lead
gift to be 30-50%, and top 10-15 gifts can account for 60% of total.
Phases of a major-gifts campaign? - correct answer planning...
Cultivation... Solicitation... Pledge or fulfillment phase -- all included in the
campaign timetable
Completely Verified Answers Graded A+ 2025/2026
The case is driven by.? - correct answer the mission and strategic plan of
the org.
What describes the org's goals and objectives and covers the programs
and services it provides? - correct answer case for support
What are the 3 key elements of a case? - correct answer org's purpose,
content, focus
The case statement includes: - correct answer the org's services,
programs, objectives... How the fundraising goals support the org... The
ways the org will remain productive, the difference a donor's support will
make, what the org must do to improve/change its activities, aims and
value to society
Who said this?... The case statement is the one definitive piece of the
whole campaign. It tells all that needs to be told, answers all the important
questions, reviews the arguments for support, explains the proposed plan
for raising the money, and shows how gifts may be made, and who the
people are who vouch for the project, and who will give it leadership and
direction. - correct answer harold j seymour, 1935, noted fundraising
pioneer
Elements of the development process - correct answer developing the
case for support... Prospect research... Cultivation and constituency
development, solicitation strategies... Acknowledgement and recognition...
Gift management
,The development plan covers the same period as the - correct answer
organization's strategic plan (and is reviewed at least annually.)
Key elements of an operational plan - correct answer statement of
purpose... Strategic/financial goals... Policies related to goal... Budgeting...
Cultivation strategies... Solicitation strategies... Time frames... Entities
responsible for activities... Indicators of success... Monitoring
processes/systems
The pyramid of giving, from james greenfield, "evaluating and managing
the fund development process", 1999 - correct answer from bottom to top:
first time annual giving... Repeat annual giving... Special/major giving...
Major giving... Planned giving (this pyramid moves from "like" to "love" to
"trust")
Choosing which types of giving to emphasize depends on org needs. If you
have heavy operating costs and few capital requirements, then focus on -
correct answer annual and planned giving
3 reasons to keep information on donors' gifts - correct answer historical,
planning, accounting
What are the two types of major gifts a donor may make? - correct answer
capital campaign (specified capital need, within a specific time period) and
endowment (builds permanent funds to support work, not spent for current
operations or capital projects, typically built by planned gifts)
With the organization's strategic planning complete, the next step is the -
correct answer internal audit (pre-campaign)
, Pre-campaign activities/internal audit include: - correct answer org
planning (mission, direction, plans for next 5-10 years, long-range funding
implications), board leadership (recruitment, structure, involvement in
planning), administration and finance (personnel's understanding of dev
process, org's budget and financial projections, revenue/expense past
trends), development operations (staff size, experience, capabilities, goals,
record keeping, gift processing/ack system, prospect research,
cultivation/recognition programs, materials), donor base, volunteer
structure, public and donor relations
Another important pre campaign activity - correct answer feasibility study
to test campaign concept and gather data
Another important pre campaign activity - correct answer gift range table
reflecting approximate levels of giving and number of gifts required
Another important pre campaign activity - correct answer clear, agreed-
upon policies and guidelines for how campaign will run
What is the rule of thirds? - correct answer 10 gifts account for 1/3 of total,
next 90 gifts account for another 1/3, final 1/3 comes from everyone else.
While rule of thirds traditional approach can work, most modern campaigns
are using major gift models in which... - correct answer far fewer gifts are
responsible for much larger percentages of total. (not uncommon for lead
gift to be 30-50%, and top 10-15 gifts can account for 60% of total.
Phases of a major-gifts campaign? - correct answer planning...
Cultivation... Solicitation... Pledge or fulfillment phase -- all included in the
campaign timetable
