Fundraisers

Fundraisers organize activities to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization. They also may design promotional materials and increase awareness of an organization’s work, goals, and financial needs.

Duties

Fundraisers typically do the following:

• Research prospective donors
• Create a strong fundraising message that appeals to potential donors
• Identify and contact potential donors
• Use online platforms to raise donations
• Organize campaigns or events to solicit donations
• Maintain records of donor information
• Evaluate the success of previous fundraising events
• Train volunteers in fundraising procedures and practices
• Ensure that all legal reporting requirements are satisfied

Fundraisers plan and oversee events and drives to raise monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. They ensure that these efforts are effective by researching potential donors and examining records of those who have given in the past.

They also develop strategies for using social media and other digital platforms to connect with potential donors and to raise awareness of their organization’s work and goals.

Fundraisers who work for political campaigns must be knowledgeable about campaign finance laws, such as the contribution limits of an individual giving to a specific candidate.

The following are examples of types of fundraising appeals:

Annual campaigns solicit donations once a year for an organization. Many nonprofit organizations have annual giving campaigns.

Capital campaigns raise money for a specific project within a set timeframe, such as the construction of a new building at a university. Capital campaigns also raise money for renovations and the creation or expansion of an endowment.

Major gifts are large amounts of money from a single source. These gifts are usually the largest sole contribution an organization receives during its annual donation cycle.

Planned giving includes promised contributions from donors who pledge money to be paid at a future date or in installments over time. Fundraisers who focus on planned giving must have specialized training in taxes regarding gifts of stocks, bonds, charitable annuities, and real estate bequests in a will.

Fundraisers held about 134,400 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of fundraisers were as follows:

Most fundraisers raise funds for an organization that employs them directly, although some fundraisers work for consulting firms that have many clients.

Fundraisers spend much of their time communicating with potential donors, whether in person, on phone calls, or some other way, such as through email. Fundraisers may travel to meet with donors and to attend charity runs or walks, galas, concerts, and other fundraising events.

Work Schedules

Most fundraisers work full time. Some attend fundraising events in the evenings or on weekends, possibly requiring additional hours.

Fundraisers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have related experience, such as from working with a nonprofit organization in an internship or as a volunteer.

The median annual wage for fundraisers was $66,490 in May 2024.

Employment of fundraisers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 10,200 openings for fundraisers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.