APC Professional Criteria:

• has experience in serving organizations as staff in a development, executive management, or in a paid consultant role.
• possesses educational qualifications and training from institutions of higher education and/or professional organizations. A bachelor's degree, CFRE, or CAE designation is required.
• conducts business in an ethical manner and within the code of ethics of the fund raising profession.
• the principal of the firm must possess at least five years professional experience with non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations.

APC Philanthropic Criteria:

• interfaces with non-profit, charitable, and/or public institutions with legally constituted non-profit governing boards.
• encourages and seeks public understanding of the needs addressed by these non-profit organizations.
• serves causes that exemplify the definition of the word "philanthropy."
• maintains a client profile that consists of at least 60% non-profit, charitable, and/or public organizations including significant service to 501(c)(3) organizations.

APC Consultant Criteria:

• provides professional fund raising guidance and advice to non-profit organizations and is financially remunerated for such services from at least two clients annually.
• assists in the success of their non-profit client organizations.
• evidences positive results from such services which are acknowledged by clients.
• the applying consultant or leader of the applying firm serves full-time as a consultant.