Stillwater, OKLA. - Local United Way director, Shelley Ricker, achieved the Certified Fund Raising Executive accreditation from CFRE International in June. There are 4,700 fundraising professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation. Ms. Ricker is a member of the 124 member Tulsa chapter of Fundraising Professionals, which has 21 members who have achieved the CFRE certification. Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International which include tenure in the profession, education, professional achievements and commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations. Candidates must pass a written examination testing their knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive.
"The CFRE process was developed as a way to identify for the public and employers those individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and commitment to perform fundraising duties in an effective, conscientious, ethical and professional manner," states Susan F. Rice, Chair of CFRE International.
Ms. Ricker has been executive director of the Stillwater Area United Way for 28 years, having started her United Way career in August, 1977. The campaign goal in 1977 was $113,000. The campaign goal this fall will be $740,000. Since 1977, over seven million dollars have been raised and invested in the community through the agencies supported by the local United Way.
She has served a two year term a president of the Oklahoma Association of United Ways, a professional association for United Way directors in the state. There are about 30 United Ways in Oklahoma and several community chest organizations. The group meets quarterly to discuss common issues and to review legislation affecting United Ways and the agencies they support.
Ms. Ricker also served on the South Central Regional Council for United Way of America which represents seven states. She has presented and facilitated seminars at United Way of America Staff Leaders Conferences in Birmingham, Alabama, Anaheim, California and was on the planning committee for conferences in Houston and Ft. Worth. In February, 2000, she was awarded the Gus Shea Memorial Scholarship from United Way of America.
During her tenure, the Stillwater Area United Way has won several United Way of America National Communications Awards with their graphics, posters, brochures, television Public Service Announcement, local web site, newspaper insert and photographs.
Locally, she is one of the founders and still serves as treasurer of Human Energy Linking Program, an association of nonprofit agency directors who meet monthly in Stillwater. She served on the organizing committees for The Christmas Store and the Stillwater Community Health Center. She is also on the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs committee. For several years, she organized the Human Needs and Services segment for the Leadership Stillwater program. She has also been a presenter at Leadership Stillwater’s Leadership Tomorrow program and Leadership Perkins. For several years, she has been coordinator of the 5th Sunday Food Offering at the First United Methodist Church where she serves on the Missions Commission. She is treasurer for the local Tri Delta Alumna group and vice president of Chapter DU of PEO.
Shelley’s grandfather, O. M. Eyler, was the first mayor of Stillwater and he purchased one of the ten bonds (for $1,000 in 1892) to start Oklahoma State University. The bond now hangs in the United Way office which is part of the historical Citizen’s Bank Building in Downtown Stillwater.
Ms. Ricker is a graduate of Stillwater High School and Oklahoma State University. Her children, Matthew Hartman and Jane Ann Hartman are also SHS graduates. Matthew, an OSU graduate, lives and works in Portland, OR and Jane Ann resides in Forest Hills, NY and attends New York University.
