Our History

The process to create the ACFRE started when the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (now AFP) began studying whether its membership would be committed to the idea of an advanced credential beyond the CFRE. 

A random survey of general membership, as well as NSFRE’s executive committee, certification board and CFREs, determined that an advanced credential would be desirable, not only for personal satisfaction, but also for professional advancement. Members felt that testing should focus on fundraising management and specialties, plus fundraising knowledge, fundraising skills, fundraising performance and overall management skills. The task force on advanced certification, which included Lyle Cook, Kent Dove, James Greenfield, Richard Heiss and Barbara Marion, recommended the creation of the ACFRE program.

J. Russell Raker III, CFRE; Barbara R. Levy, CFRE; Dennis Stefanacci, CFRE; B. Jeanne Williams, CFRE; James M. Greenfield, CFRE; Zoltan A. Karpathy; and others developed the written examination component of the advanced credential program. The group also detailed remaining tasks to be undertaken and/or completed—areas in educational preparation, application, portfolio and oral components, governance, marketing and funding—and presented a timetable for the accomplishment of these tasks.

The first ACFRE examinations were administered.

The first ACFRE credentials were conferred to 14 individuals: Ted D. Bayley; Mary Anne Chern; C. Neal Davis, Ph.D.; John P. Demoleas; Lona M. Farr, Ph.D.; Barbara R. Levy; William M. Moran; J. Russell Raker III; Del Staecker; Dennis Stefanacci; Dana R. Todsen; B. Jeanne Williams; Karla A. Williams; and Marjorie A. Winkler.