CED Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CED facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Process evaluation (implementation evaluation) primarily measures: → Whether the program is being delivered as designed and to the intended population
2. Which Herzberg motivational factor, when absent, causes dissatisfaction but when present does NOT necessarily motivate employees? → Company policy and salary (hygiene factors)
3. An executive director wants to build long-term trust with community stakeholders. Which approach is most effective? → Engage stakeholders consistently, even during challenges or setbacks
4. What does ROI mean in the context of a fundraising campaign? → Return on investment — net revenue divided by the cost of fundraising
5. A new executive director inherits a culture of low psychological safety. Which leadership behavior has the greatest impact on building it? → Publicly acknowledging and normalizing learning from failures
6. A root cause analysis is completed following a critical incident in a program. Which outcome should the analysis produce? → Systemic recommendations that prevent recurrence of similar incidents
7. Under the WARN Act, what notification is required when a company with 100+ employees plans a mass layoff affecting 50+ workers? → 60 days written notice to affected employees, state, and local government
8. Which leadership behavior is MOST associated with building psychological safety in a team, according to Amy Edmondson's research? → Modeling curiosity, acknowledging fallibility, and explicitly inviting input
9. When preparing a written report for a diverse board that includes both financial experts and community advocates, the executive director should: → Tailor sections to address different audiences' priorities within one coherent document
10. Benchmarking in nonprofit program development involves: → Comparing program outcomes and practices against peer organizations or industry standards
11. In advocacy, what is a 'call to action' (CTA)? → A specific request asking supporters to contact legislators or take a defined step
12. How does strategic decision-making influence the success of an organization? → It shapes the organization’s future and helps achieve long-term goals
13. A nonprofit's executive director also serves as the board chair. From a governance standpoint, this arrangement is: → A governance concern because it undermines board independence and oversight
14. What role does SWOT analysis play in strategic management? → It helps evaluate the organization’s current position and guide future strategies
15. The IRS 'rebuttable presumption' process for executive compensation requires nonprofits to do which of the following? → Use comparability data, independent approval, and concurrent documentation
16. What is the purpose of revenue diversification in nonprofits? → It reduces reliance on one revenue stream, increasing organizational stability
17. Which internal control is MOST effective at preventing check fraud in a small nonprofit? → Requiring dual signatures on checks above a defined threshold
18. The primary purpose of a pilot program is to: → Test a new program model on a small scale before full implementation
19. A nonprofit's annual gala is attended by board members, major donors, government officials, and community members. The executive director's remarks should: → Address themes relevant to all audience segments while emphasizing mission impact
20. In CED practice, what is a corrective action plan? → A documented strategy to address identified compliance deficiencies and prevent recurrence
21. Which fundraising approach involves asking donors to make unrestricted gifts that can be used for any organizational need? → Annual fund
22. Under HIPAA, a covered entity must provide breach notification to affected individuals within how many days of discovering a breach? → 60 days
23. An executive director's organization receives accreditation from an external body. Which quality improvement value does accreditation primarily represent? → It provides external validation that the organization meets established quality standards
24. When launching an online donation portal, which element most directly builds donor trust and increases conversion? → Visible security badges and SSL encryption on the payment page
25. An organization's whistleblower policy is MOST directly intended to: → Encourage reporting of legal violations without fear of retaliation
26. Which type of risk is associated with an organization failing to comply with state nonprofit reporting requirements? → Compliance risk
27. Which federal law prohibits discrimination in employment based on disability and requires reasonable accommodations? → The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
28. Which budgeting approach starts each fiscal year with a zero base and requires every expense to be justified anew? → Zero-based budgeting
29. The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) for a project is 1.15. This indicates the project is: → Ahead of schedule
30. Which change management model emphasizes creating a sense of urgency as the critical first step in organizational transformation? → Kotter's 8-Step Change Model