VOTE: Michael's CFRE Renewal Fund
Donation protected
I’m frustrated.
I’ve been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 1994. That means I’ve held the credential longer than at least 89 percent of all current CFREs! I’ve also taught the CFRE Review Course. Clearly, I’m committed to the idea of professional certification for fundraising practitioners.
Unfortunately, the CFRE designation has failed to realize its potential. In fact, the credential is becoming less, rather than more, relevant.
That’s why I’ve tentatively decided not to renew my certification this month UNLESS you tell me I should renew.
I’ve come up with a creative way for you to vote. My method will allow you to not only register a vote in favor of renewal, you’ll be able to convey how passionately you feel about renewal. To vote in favor of my renewal, simply donate to my GoFundMe fund.
I estimate that renewing my CFRE and running this mini-campaign will cost approximately $600. If you think I should renew, contribute one dollar. If you feel more strongly that I should renew, contribute more, up to the goal of $600.
If we reach the goal of $600 by June 14, 2015, I will submit my renewal application to CFRE International. If we do not reach the goal, I will evaluate the feedback I receive and make a final decision about renewal by June 14. In any case, I will donate any unused funds to either CFRE International or the Association of Fundraising Professionals Foundation. Donations to this mini-campaign are not tax-deductible.
If you believe that I should not bother renewing my CFRE designation, you do not have to do anything to register your vote.
With this method of voting, I will be able to gauge not just how much casual support there is for CFRE, but how much passionate support there is.
For now, I’m not passionate enough about CFRE to continue to spend my own money on renewal. To learn about my reasoning, visit my blog by clicking here .
As a longtime CFRE-holder, I hope that my dramatic move will be seen as a strong protest by someone who cares passionately about the CFRE designation. I further hope that my protest will mobilize the CFRE International Board, CFRE International supporting organizations, fellow CFRE-holders, and the broader fundraising community to take the bold measures necessary to get serious about CFRE and to implement the necessary strategies to dramatically, rather than incrementally, increase the number of CFREs in the USA and worldwide.
So, do you feel CFRE is a credential you want me to continue to hold given all of my contributions to the profession? Do you feel it benefits CFRE, in some way, to have me continue as a designee? Do you feel it really will benefit me to renew?
For whatever reason, if you feel I should apply to renew my CFRE, please vote by donating to my GoFundMe fund by June 14, 2015. By contributing, you'll be registering both your individual vote and your level of passion for CFRE.
Finally, I know that this protest project will ruffle more than a few feathers. I can live with ruffling feathers as long as the people with the power to change things finally recognize there is a problem with CFRE and take the bold steps to help the credential realize its full potential sooner rather than later. If that happens, I’ll be cheering on the effort from the sidelines.
Thank you for your time, for caring about the fundraising profession and, if you contribute, for your kind support.
I’ve been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 1994. That means I’ve held the credential longer than at least 89 percent of all current CFREs! I’ve also taught the CFRE Review Course. Clearly, I’m committed to the idea of professional certification for fundraising practitioners.
Unfortunately, the CFRE designation has failed to realize its potential. In fact, the credential is becoming less, rather than more, relevant.
That’s why I’ve tentatively decided not to renew my certification this month UNLESS you tell me I should renew.
I’ve come up with a creative way for you to vote. My method will allow you to not only register a vote in favor of renewal, you’ll be able to convey how passionately you feel about renewal. To vote in favor of my renewal, simply donate to my GoFundMe fund.
I estimate that renewing my CFRE and running this mini-campaign will cost approximately $600. If you think I should renew, contribute one dollar. If you feel more strongly that I should renew, contribute more, up to the goal of $600.
If we reach the goal of $600 by June 14, 2015, I will submit my renewal application to CFRE International. If we do not reach the goal, I will evaluate the feedback I receive and make a final decision about renewal by June 14. In any case, I will donate any unused funds to either CFRE International or the Association of Fundraising Professionals Foundation. Donations to this mini-campaign are not tax-deductible.
If you believe that I should not bother renewing my CFRE designation, you do not have to do anything to register your vote.
With this method of voting, I will be able to gauge not just how much casual support there is for CFRE, but how much passionate support there is.
For now, I’m not passionate enough about CFRE to continue to spend my own money on renewal. To learn about my reasoning, visit my blog by clicking here .
As a longtime CFRE-holder, I hope that my dramatic move will be seen as a strong protest by someone who cares passionately about the CFRE designation. I further hope that my protest will mobilize the CFRE International Board, CFRE International supporting organizations, fellow CFRE-holders, and the broader fundraising community to take the bold measures necessary to get serious about CFRE and to implement the necessary strategies to dramatically, rather than incrementally, increase the number of CFREs in the USA and worldwide.
So, do you feel CFRE is a credential you want me to continue to hold given all of my contributions to the profession? Do you feel it benefits CFRE, in some way, to have me continue as a designee? Do you feel it really will benefit me to renew?
For whatever reason, if you feel I should apply to renew my CFRE, please vote by donating to my GoFundMe fund by June 14, 2015. By contributing, you'll be registering both your individual vote and your level of passion for CFRE.
Finally, I know that this protest project will ruffle more than a few feathers. I can live with ruffling feathers as long as the people with the power to change things finally recognize there is a problem with CFRE and take the bold steps to help the credential realize its full potential sooner rather than later. If that happens, I’ll be cheering on the effort from the sidelines.
Thank you for your time, for caring about the fundraising profession and, if you contribute, for your kind support.
Organizer
Michael Rosen
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
