Charity fundraisers create and organise local and national fundraising campaigns.

What charity fundraisers do

• prepare fundraising documents and other support materials, eg flyers, text messages or a dedicated website
• approach potential and existing donors to persuade them to donate for the first time or increase their donations
• maintain lists of donors; understanding of the Data Protection Act and the various privacy regulations is essential for this
• prospect for new donors, whether individuals or businesses
• understand and exploit the tax beneficiaries offered by the government to charities, eg Gift Aid
• make grant applications
• manage the fundraising programme’s budget
• occasionally travel to local offices to explain policy and motivate staff and volunteers
• possibly recruit and manage volunteers.

Key skills

• confidence and enthusiasm
• excellent communication ability
• numeracy, particularly knowledge of finance and money management
• research ability
• creativity.

Training to be a charity fundraiser

If a graduate joins an organisation as a fundraiser assisting the fundraising manager then on-the-job training may be provided. More usually, training is conducted through off-site training courses or by calling in fundraising consultants. Occasionally, training, such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ first course in fundraising, is available online.

Salaries

Starting salaries range between £14,500 and £19,000, while experienced fundraising managers can receive £30,000. It’s not unusual for fundraisers to receive a small percentage of the amounts they raise as a bonus and incentive, although many charities discourage this practice.

Professional bodies

• Institute of Fundraising
• Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Association of Fundraising Consultants

Related jobs

• Campaign officer