Chartering FAQs

Anyone who wants to work towards achieving chartered status will need to complete a defined level of continuous professional development. The Chartered Institute will offer a range of routes to chartering, to reflect the variety of ways fundraisers have entered the profession and moved through their careers.   

There will be two routes to achieving chartership. Each route to chartership is of equal value. 

• Route one - Combination approach that blends academic achievement with experience gained through employment.   

• Route two - Experience approach that recognises the wealth and depth of an individual’s fundraising career and allocates CPD in relation to experiences gained.   

Yes. The two routes to chartering reflect the different and varied ways people have come to the fundraising profession and that not everyone wants, or is able, to undertake academic study.  

It depends on where you are at in your fundraising career and the professional development you have already done. You can work towards Chartered Fundraiser status in your own time and over several years.  

We expect that the first group of fundraisers who will become chartered will receive their Chartered Fundraiser status in late 2025/early 2026.  

We expect that the first cohort of people becoming Chartered Fundraisers will be in late 2025 or early 2026. The timings will be dependent on several factors. After that, we expect people will gain their chartered status on a rolling basis and the length of time it might take an individual to become a Chartered Fundraiser will be dependent on their personal circumstances.  

You will be able to refer to yourself as a Chartered Fundraiser, and you’ll be able to use MCIOF after your name. You’ll receive a certificate annually if you continue to maintain your Chartered Fundraiser status.  

After gaining chartered status, you will be expected to maintain an online record of annual training and development that you have undertaken, which the Chartered Institute will review. If your training and development is sufficient then you’ll be able to retain your Chartered Fundraiser status.  

A chartered professional is an individual who has earned a chartered status in a specific profession, signifying a high level of expertise, competence, and ethical standards. Chartered status is typically awarded by a professional body or regulatory authority. 

For fundraisers, it would mean that you have achieved a high level of expertise, competence and ethical standards in fundraising, and that the Chartered Institute of Fundraising has recognised that skill by awarding you the status of Chartered Fundraiser – something that only the Chartered Institute of Fundraising will be able to award to fundraisers.  

Being a chartered professional has recognisable benefits such as career advancement, recognition, and commitment to ethical standards.   

Becoming a Chartered Fundraiser can enhance your professional credibility, opening doors to new opportunities.    

It demonstrates a commitment to high standards and ethical fundraising practices, showcasing your expertise to employers and clients.    

Additionally, it provides access to a network of professionals, continuous learning opportunities, and a competitive edge in the dynamic field of fundraising.   

In September there will be a motion proposed at the Chartered Institute’s AGM, which members will be asked to vote in favour of or against. The AGM will take place virtually, so members who wish to attend and take part in the vote will need to register for the event in advance and join the event online.  

There are many factors that impact employability but we believe that being a Chartered Fundraiser will help to elevate your skills and experience and help you stand out.  

It demonstrates a commitment to high standards and ethical fundraising practices, showcasing your expertise to employers and clients.    

Additionally, it provides access to a network of professionals, continuous learning opportunities, and a competitive edge in the dynamic field of fundraising. 

Not all fundraisers will want to work towards being a Chartered Fundraiser and for those who don’t wish to, there are plenty of other ways to develop your career, insight and knowledge of fundraising.  

The Chartered Institute is working with the sector on ways to widen access to fundraising careers, to retain the talent already working in the sector, and to attract the next generation of talented fundraisers.

As a member of the Chartered Institute, you are demonstrating a commitment to high levels of fundraising practice – which employers value. Any qualifications you have in fundraising will still be recognised by employers in the sector. Members who don’t want to work towards chartering will still have access to resources, guidance, training, webinars and more to support your career. 

All individual members of the Chartered Institute are welcome to work towards gaining Chartered Fundraiser status. You must be a member of the Chartered Institute to work towards chartering, but not all members will want to do so, and being a member alone is not enough to be able to be awarded Chartered Fundraiser status.  

Yes absolutely. You’ll still get access to all your membership benefits, guidance, resources, webinars, etc. If you decide later that you would like to work towards being a Chartered Fundraiser, that’s fine too.  

Yes, only individual members of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising will be able to work towards becoming a Chartered Fundraiser.