Click here to read the NAEF event cancellation and refund policy.
The National Association of Education Foundations connects job seekers and those hiring through our Career Center.
Members can post a career placement free of charge; non-members will pay a nominal fee. Payment must be received in full before a job is posted to the Career Center.
First, register and pay for the career placement online. Then, send the career placement to info@educationfoundations.org in an email or as an email attachment. Include relevant job information and how applicants should apply [web address, email, etc]. An attached file must be an original file [IE: Microsoft Word]. The career placement will remain online for 30-days, but can be renewed for an additional 30-days at the same rate.
The Certificate in Education Foundation Leadership, CEFL, is the professional standard and is the only certification program designed exclusively for education foundation leaders and executives. This program provides foundation leaders with specific skills and knowledge required to lead and manage an education foundation, regardless of size.
The CEFL Certification Program is offered online in an asynchronous format that is self-paced with weekly deadlines. Optional weekly check-ins over Zoom provide a space to connect in real time with instructors and peers from across the country.
Each course is four weeks; the certificate can be completed in about six months. There is a "Flex" week between each course. This allows students the flexibility to work ahead, catch up on any missed work, or just enjoy some time off.
This six-course program is ideal for education foundation leaders, foundation staff, and board members who are passionate about the advancement of the industry, their foundation, and their professional growth.
Prerequisite
You must be a member in good standing with the NAEF and maintain active membership to retain certification.
Registration
Full program registration and for course CEFL 101 closes on April 21, 2025. You can also choose to register and pay by course.
Registration Fee
The cost for the six-course program is $3,000 and we provide two payment options:
We must receive payment in advance of the course start date to provide you with access to the online learning platform.
Course Calendar
The six-course session begins April 21 and concludes November 17, 2025. Enrolled students may access course materials beginning April 21st; courses being on April 28th.
Access our CEFL Certification web page
Discover how to engage an often-overlook audience- your district staff and teachers- to support your Education Foundation. We'll share practical tips, useful tools, and a clear action plan to help you make a compelling pitch to this vital group.
Featured Speakers
Teresa Benden
Executive Director of The College Station ISD Education Foundation
Teresa is in her 16th year as Executive Director of the College Station ISD Education Foundation, where she channels her deep passion for excellence in public education. A proud product of public schools herself, Teresa earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Texas A&M University and holds the esteemed Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. Her diverse professional background spans communications, public relations, graphic design and sales.
Under Teresa's visionary leadership, the Foundation has raised over $11 million for College Station ISD students and established an endowment exceeding $2.5 million. Her dedication to expanding the Foundation's impact has led to the development of eight annual educational programs, enriching countless lives.
Teresa's achievements have earned her recognition as a 2015 Texas A&M College of Education Dean's Roundtable honoree, along with numerous accolades from the Texas School Public Relations Association and the Texas Education Foundation Network. A committed community volunteer, she has served as a member and chair of the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program. Alongside her husband, she mentors engaged couples through their church.
Christy Tarkington
Assistant Director of the Humble ISD Education Foundation and Humble ISD Community Engagement
Christy serves as the Assistant Director for both the Humble ISD Education Foundation and Humble ISD Community Engagement. She joined Humble ISD in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous role as Director of Advancement for a private school in Houston.
Building on a career in fundraising that began in 1999, she brings extensive experience in annual giving campaigns, major gift programs, and donor relations. In her current role, she excels at nurturing strong relationships with Foundation supporters and community partners, directly creating enhanced learning opportunities for educators and students.
Christy holds a B.S. in Health Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and an M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from Sam Houston State University
Member - $35
Non-member - $65
Stay in front of foundation leaders with an advertisement in our August newsletter.
Advertising opportunities include -
The deadline of purchasing February advertising is July 29, 2025.
View digital advertising details & sizing here
This session provides a collaborative space to discuss donor outreach, campaign planning, and creative ways to inspire generosity during Giving Tuesday and the year-end season.
Moderator
Andrea Wiseman Summers
Andrea is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Portland Public Schools in Portland Maine. She is also a Board Member of NAEF.
Schedule
3 PM ET / 2 PM CT / 1 PM MT / 12 PM PT
This event is for members only.
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, ACFRE, ACNP for a presentation focused on actionable solutions to common fundraising problems. Chad will reveal the most common barriers to effective fundraising at the education foundations that he has worked with and provide tips for overcoming them. Attendees will also be given free access to document samples and templates which will help to fast track the implementation of these solutions. Ample time will be reserved for questions so that attendees can also pick Chad's brain for solutions to their "not so common" fundraising challenges.
Barriers Covered
Featured Speaker
Chad Barger, ACFRE, ACNP helps nonprofit professionals fundraise more efficiently and effectively. He is the founder of the firm Productive Fundraising, which focuses on bringing actionable, research-based fundraising tactics to small and mid-sized non-profits. He is a top-rated conference speaker and webinar presenter as well as a master trainer of boards that "don't want to fundraise." Chad is also a strategic advisor and coach to many non-profit fundraisers, executive directors and board members. He takes pride in being a qualified curator of top-notch fundraising news and research through his weekly fundraiserchad-e-blasts and popular free monthly webinar series.
12 PM ET / 11 AM CT / 10 AM MT / 9 AM PT
Member -$35
Stay in front of foundation leaders with an advertisement in our February newsletter!
The deadline of purchasing October advertising is September 30, 2025.
Join this collaborative webinar to share and learn from peers about creative ways to inspire board members, foster collaboration, and align them with your organization's mission.
Teresa Duren
Theresa is the Executive Director at the Oshkosh Area School District Education Foundation in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She is also a member of the NAEF Programs Committee
This event is for members only
Educational foundations are uniquely positioned to generate earned income through before- and after-school programs, specialty enrichment classes, and summer camps. These programs not only serve the students but also create a sustainable revenue stream that fuels impactful initiatives within the classroom. School districts benefit from these partnerships, seeing alignment between the foundation's mission and the educational goals of the district. The programs reflect shared values, reinforcing a sense of community and educational continuity. Through these opportunities, educational foundations can build a holistic ecosystem where earned income fuels meaningful programs, aligning educational experiences with community-driven values and impact.
Laura Pitts, CEO, CFEL
Laura Pitts is an accomplished leader with extensive expertise in developing and managing earned income programs within educational foundations. Her focus includes before-school and after-school care, enrichment classes, and summer school programs that offer advancement credit. With a strong background in aligning these initiatives to support educational foundations’ missions, Laura builds programs that not only meet the needs of students and parents but also drive sustainable funding for impactful in-classroom initiatives. Her strategic approach fosters partnerships with school districts, delivering programs that support academic growth and reinforce community engagement.
The deadline of purchasing February advertising is November 25, 2025.
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