Why I’m Preparing for the CFRE When I Already Know I’m Good

I never imagined myself back in study mode, preparing for an exam that feels, in many ways, like an exercise in proving what I already know. Yet here I am, preparing for the CFRE armed with highlighters, flashcards, and a stack of textbooks, trying to force myself into the mold of what “qualified” fundraising looks like on paper.

It’s an odd feeling, given that I’ve built my career around community-centric fundraising—a world where formulas and rules don’t always align with the lived experiences and realities of the communities I serve. It feels almost counterintuitive, like trying to cram something fluid and intuitive into the rigid structure of an exam outline. But still, I’m pushing through, because I know why I’m doing this, and it’s about more than just a piece of paper.

Let’s start with that “piece of paper”-- it matters. There’s power that comes with holding a credential that the world recognizes. I know my value, I know the impact I’ve had, and I know the strategies I’ve implemented have changed lives and empowered communities. But in reality, those four little letters carry weight.

They open doors, demand respect, and force people to listen. It’s not that I need validation from an external body to know I’m good at what I do, but I recognize that having those letters after my name means I won’t have to fight quite as hard to be taken seriously in certain rooms. It’s about dismantling the unspoken barriers that exist, especially for women of color in fundraising. It’s about giving myself every tool possible to make sure my voice isn’t just heard—it’s amplified.

But beyond that, there’s this idea that once you know the rules, you can break them. Studying for the CFRE is forcing me to engage with the traditional, institutionalized ways of fundraising in a way that I haven’t in years. It’s both frustrating and enlightening. There’s this tension, this push and pull between what I’m studying and what I know works when you’re truly centering community in your fundraising practices.

It’s not about throwing the baby out with the bathwater—it’s about mastering the system so that when I challenge it, I do so from a place of authority. I want to be able to say, “Yes, I know the textbook answer, but let me tell you why this community-centric approach is better.” That’s where the real power lies—being able to navigate both worlds with confidence, to speak the language of institutional funders while still holding to my core values.

And yes, let’s be honest—CFRE holders make more money. It’s not something we like to talk about openly, but it’s a fact. And I want that. I deserve that. My work has value, and I refuse to apologize for wanting to be compensated in a way that reflects my expertise, my dedication, and the results I bring to the table.

There’s this narrative, especially in the nonprofit world, that we should be content with simply doing good, that financial success somehow taints the purity of our intentions. But that’s nonsense. I believe in the work I do, and I deserve to be paid well for it. Pursuing the CFRE is one more way to ensure that I’m not underselling myself or allowing others to do so.

As I study, I can’t help but reflect on how far I’ve come. There was a time when I doubted my place and felt like I didn’t belong because I wasn’t following the “traditional” path. I’ve spent years carving out my own space, building a career that’s grounded in authenticity, compassion, and a deep commitment to community. And now, preparing for this exam feels like a reclamation of sorts—a way of saying, “I know my worth, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the world knows it too.”

But there’s also vulnerability in this process. Studying for the CFRE feels like straddling two worlds—one foot in the system, one foot out, and the constant fear that I’m betraying one for the sake of the other. It’s uncomfortable, and I find myself questioning whether I’m losing a piece of myself in the pursuit of this credential. But then I remind myself that the power isn’t in the letters themselves—it’s in how I choose to wield them. I am still the same community-centric fundraiser at my core, still driven by a desire to uplift, empower, and create meaningful change. The CFRE won’t change that—it’ll just give me more tools to do it on my terms.