Try six CFRE practice questions

1. During a volunteer rating session, staff should:

(Question from Domain 1: Current & Prospective Donor Research of the CFRE exam)

• AFacilitate the conversation and propose an initial rating for each name.
• BBe present to record findings but stay out of the discussion.
• CBe absent so that volunteers can speak without constraint.
• DPresent the completed research file on each prospect before discussion begins.

2. A donor supports a project but states that the requested amount is beyond their means this year. The BEST response is to:

(Question from Domain 2: Securing the Gift of the CFRE exam)

• AThank them and revisit the request in a future year.
• BPropose a multi-year pledge that reaches a comparable total.
• CReduce the request to an amount they are certain to accept.
• DAsk them to identify another donor who could give at that level.

3. A long-standing donor has given consistently for twelve years but has never been visited. The MOST appropriate next step is to:

(Question from Domain 3: Relationship Building of the CFRE exam)

• ASend a personalized upgrade appeal at a substantially higher amount.
• BArrange a visit with no solicitation, to learn what motivates their support.
• CInvite them to join the board of directors.
• DAdd them to the planned giving mailing list.

4. An organization wishes to involve volunteers in its fundraising but has never done so and has no structure in place. To establish one, it should:

(Question from Domain 4: Volunteer Involvement of the CFRE exam)

• ATake time to identify suitable potential volunteers and then recruit them.
• BPublicize the opportunity and invite interested people to come forward.
• CAsk the chief executive to name candidates and recruit those individuals.
• DDraw exclusively from the current board, who are already committed.

5. An organization's donor database and its finance system report materially different totals for the year. The FIRST priority is to:

(Question from Domain 5: Leadership and Management of the CFRE exam)

• AAdopt the finance system's figure for all external reporting.
• BEstablish a regular reconciliation process between the two systems.
• CEngage an external auditor to determine which figure is correct.
• DReplace the donor database with a system that integrates with finance.

6. Should an organization accept a gift from a business whose owner is the subject of a criminal investigation?

(Question from Domain 6: Ethics, Accountability, and Professionalism of the CFRE exam)

• ANo, association with the business could damage the organization's reputation.
• BYes, provided the funds are not connected to the investigation and acceptance does not breach the gift acceptance policy.
• CYes, since the origin of a contribution has no bearing on how it is used.
• DYes, provided the gift is received before charges are filed.