Fundraisers

Career summary

Fundraisers help organizations raise funds. They are responsible for building relationships with potential donors. They may work directly for a company, or work for a fundraising firm. They do research to figure out what events will work best to reach company goals. They plan and direct a variety of campaigns and events to raise money for a specific cause.

Fundraising campaigns can include:

• Annual giving campaigns
• Direct mail programs

Fundraising events can include:

• Charity walks
• Silent auctions
• Dances

When planning a fundraiser, they make sure to set a goal for the amount of money to raise. They also develop policies about how to collect contributions, keep them safe, and give them away to the designated cause.

Fundraisers prepare materials and presentations to promote fundraising events to sponsors, participants, and volunteers. Fundraisers track progress made towards fundraising goals. They send thank-you notes to people and organizations who donate.

Related careers

This career is part of the Marketing cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Advertising Managers
• Advertising Salespeople
• Marketing Managers
• Meeting and Convention Planners
• Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
• Public Relations Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to fundraisers.

• Conduct research to figure out the best strategies for fundraising.
• Plan fundraising events and campaigns to raise money for specific causes.
• Create budgets for campaigns and keep track of expenses.
• Set fundraising goals and keep track of progress.
• Recruit sponsors, participants, or volunteers for fundraising events.
• Write speeches, press releases, and other promotional materials to create awareness of fundraising events.
• Set up fundraising events such as charity walks, silent auctions, and dances.
• Organize long-term fundraising projects such as annual giving campaigns and direct mail programs.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors.
• Send thank-you notes to donors.

Common work activities

Fundraisers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Establish and maintain relationships
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Get information needed to do the job
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Perform for or work with the public
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Develop goals and strategies
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Use computers
• Develop and build teams
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Think creatively
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Document and record information
• Analyze data or information
• Schedule work and activities
• Coach others
• Monitor and control resources
• Process information
• Perform administrative tasks
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Provide advice and consultation to others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, fundraisers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Communicate by telephone, e-mail, letters, and in person on a daily basis.
• Regularly work as part of a team.
• Have a high level of social contact.
• Are responsible for their work and the work of others.

Physical work conditions

• Nearly always work indoors. They may occasionally work outdoors at an event.
• Speak clearly so customers can understand.
• See objects clearly nearby.

Work performance

• Must be very accurate when planning fundraisers so events and campaigns are successful.
• Repeat similar tasks most days.
• Meet deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Work full time.
• May work nights and weekends to attend fundraising events.

Physical demands

Fundraisers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for fundraisers to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for fundraisers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

Skills and abilities

Fundraisers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Communication and Speech Studies
• Journalism
• Public Relations

Other programs of study to consider

• Business, General
• English Composition and Writing
• Marketing

Training

To work as a fundraiser, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have some internship or volunteer experience

Education after high school

Most fundraisers have a bachelor's degree or higher. Many colleges and universities offer programs in public relations, fundraising, journalism, communications, English or business.

No matter what your major is, you should take courses in advertising, business administration, public speaking, technical and creative writing, and political science.

Work experience

Fundraisers usually need a few years of work-related experience from internships or volunteer work.

On-the-job training

You should consider participating in an internship while in college. An internship is usually part of a four-year degree program. It offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Communications
• Computer Applications
• Creative Writing
• Journalism
• Principles of Advertising
• Public Speaking
• Technical Writing

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Licensing/certification

Many states require that some types of fundraisers register with a state authority. Requirements vary by state.

Wages

Pay varies with the worker's education, job duties, and the industry of the employer.

Most employers provide full-time fundraisers with benefits. Benefits may include health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and a retirement plan. 

Employment and outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Religious or professional organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• Colleges and universities

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will grow faster than average. Many organizations are trying to establish an online presence and are using social media for fundraising activities. 

Those with volunteer or internship experience will have the best job opportunities.

Other resources

American Alliance of Museums 
2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 1005
Arlington, VA 22202
202.289.1818

Americans for the Arts 

Association for Healthcare Philanthropy 
2550 South Clark Street, Suite 810
Arlington, VA 22202
703.532.6243

Association of Fundraising Professionals 
4300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22203
800.666.3863
703.684.0410

Council for Advancement and Support of Education 
1307 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
202.328.2273

References

Career cluster

• Marketing

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Fundraisers (13-1131.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Fund Raiser I (293.157-010) 
• Fund Raiser II (293.357-014) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Conventional/Artistic

COPSystem

• Business Professional