Updated for Winter '26 Release
Last Updated: November 2025 | Exam Version: Winter '26
This exam guide reflects the latest Salesforce Winter '26 release (November 2025). Key updates include AI-Powered Grant Matching, Generative AI for Donor Outreach, and new Data Cloud for Nonprofits Connectors.
⚡ What Changed from Spring '25 to Winter '26?
Agentforce AI scans grant databases and suggests best-fit opportunities for your programs
AI drafts personalized thank-you notes and appeal emails in the donor engagement flow
New data kits to unify donor, program, and volunteer data from disparate systems
Salesforce Certified Nonprofit Cloud Consultant
Your complete guide to managing programs, fundraising, and constituent engagement
📊 Exam At a Glance
📝 Note: As of July 21, 2025, all Salesforce exams are delivered through Pearson VUE (Trailhead Academy). The exam can be taken at a testing center or online with remote proctoring.
Exam Objectives & Weightage
1. Nonprofit Cloud Core & Configuration
30%Understand the core data model (e.g., Household Account model), security settings for constituent data, and how to configure the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP).
The Generative AI Donor Outreach feature is now a testable part of the constituent engagement and Case Management flow.
View Key Topics ▼
- Describe the Household Account model and Affiliations
- Configure NPSP settings for automation (e.g., address updates)
- Implement security and sharing for volunteers, clients, and staff
- Manage Relationships and constituent data
2. Program Management
25%Design and configure solutions to manage programs, clients, and services using the Program Management Module (PMM) data model.
PMM now has improved LWR components for Experience Cloud, allowing clients to self-register for services in a portal.
3. Fundraising & Grants Management
30%Configure donation management, Gift Entry, and payment processing. Manage the full grant lifecycle from application to award and reporting.
The AI-Powered Grant Matching tool is now a core part of the grants management process, helping identify funding opportunities.
📝 Sample Exam Questions
💡 Test Your Knowledge
These sample questions reflect the style and difficulty level of the actual Consultant exam. Practice with these to assess your readiness.
Question 1: Core & Configuration
A nonprofit wants to give volunteers access to view their assigned Program records, but must prevent them from seeing any donation or fundraising data (Opportunities, Recurring Donations). What is the BEST way to configure this?
A) Set the Opportunity OWD to 'Private' and use a Permission Set for volunteers.
B) Assign volunteers to a Role at the top of the hierarchy.
C) Create a separate Page Layout for volunteers.
D) Use a Security Predicate in CRM Analytics.
✓ Correct Answer: A) Set the Opportunity OWD to 'Private' and use a Permission Set for volunteers.
Explanation: The best practice is to lock down sensitive objects (like Opportunity) to Private at the Org-Wide Default (OWD) level, and then use a custom Profile or Permission Set for volunteers that has no Read access to those objects.
Question 2: Program Management
A case manager needs to track a client's enrollment in a 6-week "Job Training" program. They also need to record the client's attendance at each of the 6 weekly workshop sessions. What objects should be used?
A) One `Program` record and six `Campaign` records.
B) One `Program Engagement` record and multiple `Service Delivery` records.
C) One `Case` record and multiple `Task` records.
D) One `Program` record and multiple `Program Engagement` records.
✓ Correct Answer: B) One `Program Engagement` record and multiple `Service Delivery` records.
Explanation: In the PMM data model, `Program Engagement` tracks a client's *enrollment* in a program. `Service Delivery` records are used to track each *instance* of service provided (e.g., attending a workshop).
Question 3: Fundraising
A major donor has pledged to donate $1,000 every month for the next 3 years. What is the MOST efficient way to track this in Nonprofit Cloud?
A) Create 36 separate Opportunity records.
B) Create one `Recurring Donation` record.
C) Create one Opportunity record with 36 `Payment` records.
D) Create one `Grant` record.
✓ Correct Answer: B) Create one `Recurring Donation` record.
Explanation: The `Recurring Donation` object is designed for this exact scenario. It acts as a template that automatically generates the "child" `Opportunity` records (installments) based on the schedule (e.g., monthly).
💡 Exam Tip: The exam is heavily scenario-based. Focus on the NPSP and PMM data models. Know the difference between a `Program Engagement` and a `Service Delivery` by heart.
📚 Study Resources & Preparation
🎯 Recommended Study Plan (4-6 Weeks)
Confirm Admin cert. Master NPSP data model (Household Accounts, Relationships, Affiliations).
Hands-on. Configure PMM (Programs, Engagements, Services). Configure Gift Entry and Recurring Donations.
Take practice exams. Review security/sharing, grant management, and NPSP settings.
💡 Exam Day Tips
Know the key objects: `Recurring Donation`, `Program`, `Program Engagement`, `Service Delivery`, `Affiliation`.
Understand the two main pillars. Fundraising is (mostly) `Opportunities`. Program is (mostly) `Program Management` objects.
Nonprofits have complex sharing (volunteers, clients, staff). Review how to use sharing, profiles, and perm sets to protect data.