Resource Reading List

CFRE Recommended Resource Reading List

Publications on the Reading Resource List are widely available and provide information on current, commonly accepted fundraising practices. These books are comprehensive and most closely relate to information covered on the exam.

It is not intended that each candidate read every publication. Most candidates read one to three books, focusing on texts that address where they need to bolster their fundraising knowledge.

This list is provided as a guide for candidates seeking books on particular subject areas or general overview texts.

The books listed were used frequently by item writers and reviewers to create the exam. However, reading any or all of these publications does not guarantee you will excel on the exam.

The exam is not intended to be an assessment of your knowledge of literature. There is no single reference, or small group of references, that are associated with most of the questions on any given exam form. The best advice is to review a basic, widely used book. You may then wish to seek additional information not covered in that publication.

Comprehensive Resources

These resources are comprehensive in nature, covering each of the six CFRE Knowledge Domains.

Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (5th ed.) (2022) by Genevieve G. Shaker, Eugene R. Tempel, et al

Fund Raising Basics (2009) by Barbara L. Ciconte and Jeanne Jacob

Fundraising for Social Change, 8th edition (2022) by Kim Klein, Stan Yogi

Fundraising Principles and Practice, 3rd edition (2024) by Adrian Sargeant, Jen Shang

Complete Reading Resource List

Knowledge Domain Codes contained in the table are the following:

KD1 = Current and Prospective Donor Research KD4 = Volunteer Involvement
KD2 = Securing the Gift KD5 = Leadership and Management
KD3 = Relationship Building KD6 = Ethics, Accountability, and Professionalism
Title Knowledge Domains Addressed
Keep Your Donors (2008) by Tom Ahern and Simone Joyaux KD1, KD2, KD3, KD6
Beyond Fund Raising (2nd ed.) (2005) by Kay Sprinkel Grace KD1, KD2, KD3, KD4, KD5
Visual Planned Giving: An introduction to the law & taxation of charitable gift planning (2014) by Dr. Russell James III KD1, KD2, KD3, KD4
Capital Campaigns: Strategies That Work 4th Edition (2016) by Andrea Kihlstedt KD1, KD2, KD3, KD4
The Fundraising Reader (2023) by Beth Breeze, Pamela Wiepking, Donna Day Lafferty KD2, KD3, KD4, KD5, KD6
Fund Raising Basics (2009) by Barbara L. Ciconte and Jeanne Jacob COMPREHENSIVE KD1, KD2, KD3, KD4, KD5, KD6
Fundraising Principles and Practice, 3rd edition (2024) by Adrian Sargeant, Jen Shang COMPREHENSIVE KD1, KD2, KD3, KD4, KD5, KD6
Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (5th ed.) (2022) by Genevieve G. Shaker, Eugene R. Tempel, et al COMPREHENSIVE KD1, KD2, KD3, KD4, KD5, KD6
Fundraising for Social Change, 8th edition (2022) by Kim Klein, Stan Yogi COMPREHENSIVE KD1, KD2, KD3, KD4, KD5, KD6

CFRE International is an Amazon.com Affiliate. If you purchase any of the titles above using the links on this page (or the CFRE Exam Compass Study Guide), CFRE International receives a small percentage of the purchase price at no cost to you. This funding helps support CFRE International and the ongoing development and maintenance of the CFRE credential.