EFA Certification
Basic information
- Host or sponsor: Umbrella organisation
- Type: Certification scheme
- Year established: 2005
- Status: Active
- Thematic area: Fundraising
- Summary: The EFA seeks to develop common standards for fundraising across Europe. The EFA certifies fundraising training programmes. This certification sets minimum content standards to ensure consistency across all National Fundraising Organisations that are members of EFA. National Fundraising Organisations are responsible for recognising programmes which comply with the EFA training syllabus and standards, then and making recommendations to the EFA Certification Board. The EFA Certification Board ratifies local recognition, validates programmes. Successful programmes carry the mark "EFA Certified".
Contact details
- Host organisation: European Fundraising Association
- Acronym: EFA
- Website: www.efa-net.eu
- Phone: +49 30 4053 6845
- Address: Keizersgracht 317, 1016 EE Amsterdam Netherlands
Areas addressed
- Principles or standards: Standards-based
- Communications / advocacy / fundraising:
- Fundraising standards
Further info: The EFA certification standards apply to funraising training programmes only. However, the contents of these training programmes clearly indicate standards which could be applied to any organisation's fundriasing activities.
Participation
- Reasons for participation
- Certificate / seal of approval
Compliance
- Description of monitoring mechanism: First, a Fundraising Training Programme is developed, based on EFA Standards. National Fundraising Organisations are then responsible for recognising suitable programmes and making recommendations to the EFA Certification Board. Finally, the EFA Certification Board ratifies local recognition, validates programmes leading to EFA Certification, and accredits recommended programmes.
Assessment
The EFA Certification focuses on training standards, rather than the practices of specific organisations. This approach to self-regulation prioritises developing common norms and standards among practitioners with the expectation that this will eventually translate into more consistent and high standards of practice within CSO sector fundraising. This approach could be considered for other fields of activity and offers the potential to improve quality and accountability by training practitioners rather than focusing on organisational policies and procedures.
