CFRE Trivia 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the typical recertification cycle for the CFRE credential?
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 2 years
- 1 year
Correct answer: 3 years
CFRE credential holders must recertify every 3 years by demonstrating continued education, professional service, and fundraising practice.
Question 2: What does 'philanthropy' literally mean in its Greek origin?
- Love of humanity (Correct answer)
- Gift to the gods
- Generous spirit
- Public charity
Correct answer: Love of humanity
Philanthropy derives from the Greek 'philanthropia,' combining 'philos' (loving) and 'anthropos' (human being), meaning love of humanity.
Question 3: Which fundraising technique involves sending a small token gift (e.g., address labels or calendar) with a solicitation to increase response rates?
- Front-end premium (Correct answer)
- Thank-you incentive
- Reciprocity ask
- Donor premium follow-up
Correct answer: Front-end premium
A front-end premium is an unsolicited gift included with the appeal that leverages the principle of reciprocity to boost donation response rates.
Question 4: What is 'donor fatigue' in fundraising practice?
- A decline in donor giving caused by over-solicitation or too many competing appeals (Correct answer)
- Physical exhaustion experienced by fundraising staff during campaign peaks
- A donor's loss of interest after their naming gift is fulfilled
- Reduced board member enthusiasm after a failed campaign
Correct answer: A decline in donor giving caused by over-solicitation or too many competing appeals
Donor fatigue occurs when donors receive too many solicitation requests and begin to disengage or reduce giving as a result.
Question 5: In the context of special events fundraising, what is 'net revenue'?
- Total event income minus all event-related expenses (Correct answer)
- Total ticket and sponsorship sales before any deductions
- The amount raised above the event's expected capacity
- Gross revenue minus only direct food and venue costs
Correct answer: Total event income minus all event-related expenses
Net revenue is the actual profit from an event, calculated by subtracting all costs (venue, catering, entertainment, staffing) from total income.
Question 6: What is the key characteristic of an 'unrestricted gift' to a nonprofit?
- The organization can use it for any operational or programmatic purpose (Correct answer)
- It must be used within the fiscal year it was received
- It requires board approval before being spent
- It can only fund overhead and administrative costs
Correct answer: The organization can use it for any operational or programmatic purpose
Unrestricted gifts give the nonprofit maximum flexibility to apply funds wherever they are most needed, including operations, programs, or reserves.
Question 7: Which approach describes 'board member fundraising' best practice where board members open doors rather than close gifts?
- Board members make introductions and accompany staff on cultivation visits (Correct answer)
- Board members personally solicit and close all major gifts independently
- Board members host events and handle all gift follow-up without staff
- Board members review and approve every gift solicitation letter
Correct answer: Board members make introductions and accompany staff on cultivation visits
Best practice positions board members as relationship connectors who introduce prospects and support staff gift officers, who lead cultivation and solicitation.
CFRE Trivia 5
What is the typical recertification cycle for the CFRE credential?