CFRE Fundraising Planning and Strategic Management

Question 1

A 'feasibility study' conducted before a capital campaign is designed to:

Accepted Answer

Assess whether the campaign goal, leadership, and donor base can support the planned campaign

Answer

A feasibility study interviews key stakeholders and major gift prospects to evaluate whether the organization is ready to launch a campaign at the proposed scale.

Question 2

Which of the following is the correct sequence for conducting a capital campaign?

Accepted Answer

Feasibility study → campaign planning → silent phase → public phase

Answer

Capital campaigns follow a structured sequence: feasibility study first, then campaign planning, followed by the quiet/silent phase to secure lead gifts, and finally the public phase.

Question 3

What is a 'gift range chart' (also called a table of gifts) used for in campaign planning?

Accepted Answer

Showing how many gifts at various levels are needed to reach the campaign goal

Answer

A gift range chart mathematically models the number of gifts at each level required to reach a campaign goal, helping planners identify how many prospects are needed at each tier.

Question 4

In a major gifts campaign, what is the recommended ratio of prospects to gifts needed at each level?

Accepted Answer

3:1 to 4:1

Answer

Major gift fundraising generally requires a 3:1 to 4:1 ratio of prospects to gifts expected at each level, accounting for those who decline or cannot give.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the 'silent phase' of a capital campaign?

Accepted Answer

The early phase when major gifts are solicited quietly before public announcement

Answer

The silent (or quiet) phase is when fundraisers solicit lead gifts from top prospects, typically aiming to secure 50–70% of the goal before any public announcement.

CFRE - Certified Fund Raising Executive Practice Test

CFRE - Certified Fund Raising Executive Practice Test

CFRE Fundraising Planning and Strategic Management