Membership :: Member Benefits

Networking

With 1600 members and growing, you are never alone as a resource development professional. Through a phone call, a hit on the CRD website, or a query on the Listserv, you are instantly in contact with your colleagues all over the country and Canada who are willing to share their expertise, solutions, and innovations in grant development and fundraising. CRD networking opportunities include:

     CRD Mentoring Program

     CRD Listserv

     Regional and National Conferences

Training

CRD is a member-driven organization. Our programs are developed and delivered by professionals currently employed in the field of resource development at two-year colleges. Drawing on the expertise and experience of our peers ensures that programming is current, relevant, and applicable. CRD programs include:

National Conference: CRD annual hosts more than 500 development officers and presidents from two-year colleges at a three-day conference in Washington, DC. This conference includes presentations on public and private sector fundraising and project management. Program officers from federal higher education agencies and programs are available.

Regional Conferences: CRD conferences are held annually in each of the 10 regions of the U.S. and Canada. Check the regional web pages for more details.

Webinars:  CRD offers periodic webinar series of current topics in community college resource development.  Different from podcasts or other web programs, these webinars allow participants to directly interact with presenters through instant messaging.  The 2007 Webinar Series focused on topics in alumni development.  The 2008 Webinar Series has focused on Grant Topics.  Foundation topics will also be offered in 2008.

Resource Development Specialist Training: This two-week intensive CRD program provides an in-depth study of fundraising and project management in both the private and the public sectors. The first week is held on a model two-year campus; the second week of study is in Washington, DC.

Community College Alumni Development Workshop: Learn the nuts and bolts of the legal issues that surround founding and managing an alumni association. Gain valuable tools for data management, communication, fundraising and alumni benefits.

Summer Symposium on Emerging Issues: This retreat-style training opportunity for advanced development officers is customized each year to provide interactive workshops focused on selected issues. In-depth discussions and roundtables give experienced institutional advancement professionals time to acquire new ideas, refresh their spirits and reenergize their commitment to their profession.

Executive Institute for Fundraising Leadership: Participants learn from experts how to build a productive fundraising network and examine the role of president, trustees, foundation board members, and staff in generating external resources for your institution. Teams from colleges both large and small enjoy the opportunity to hear first-hand reports and lessons learned from some their most outstanding peers in the U.S. and Canada.

Federal Funding Task Force: Each year CRD invites volunteers to visit Washington, DC, to collect information on federal funding to two-year colleges. Task force participants learn interviewing and networking skills, build partnerships with colleagues, and strengthen relationships with agency program officers that benefit community colleges in general and their institutions in particular. The task force then produces CRD's Federal Funding to Two-Year Colleges Report.  The 2007/2008 FFTF Report is published online in the "members only" section in a searchable format. 

Presidents Fundraising Workshop: The workshop has been designed by and for institutional leaders specifically to encourage a new generation of community college presidents to be successful fundraisers for their institutions. Topics include: the president's role in fundraising; making time for fundraising; building and inspiring a cadre of volunteers and donors; the nuts and bolts of campaigns; the fundraising team; and how to ask for gifts.

CFRE Content Review Course: CFRE International offers the only internationally-recognized baseline professional credential for philanthropic fundraising executives. Based on current and valid practice-based standards, the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation is a personal and professional achievement that sets standards in philanthropy. The CFRE Content Review Course, offered by CRD prior to the National Conference, will prepare fundraising executives to sit for the CFRE exam.  The next review course is planned for 2008.

Publications and Research

Publications and Research: CRD publishes numerous publications of interest and benefit to its membership. These include:

The Dispatch: The national magazine of CRD published three times a year contains timely articles, announcement and information for community college fund raisers

Resource Papers and the New Century Series: Monographs and resource papers on selected topics in grants, fundraising, strategic planning, and more

The Federal Funding to Two-Year Colleges Report: The annual findings of the Federal Funding Task Force is available online to all CRD members.

Membership Directory: An online membership directory is updated regularly.

Other Benefits

Legislative/Grants Alerts: Information on pending legislation that may impact community colleges and alerts regarding new or unusual funding sources are disseminated regularly via the CRD Listserv

Periodic workshops around the country on specific topics, such as the NSF grant writing workshop which directly follows the Region V Conference on June 13, 2008 this year.

CRD Website: www.crdnet.org

Samples: Foundation and fundraising policies and procedures, sample grants, sample job descriptions and other documents

Our offices in are available for your use during your visits to Washington, DC. A small conference room is available, as well as a workstation with computer access

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