Fundraisers: Job Description
Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.
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What Tasks Do Fundraisers Do?
Typical responsibilities of fundraisers span:
- Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
- Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
- Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
- Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
- Create or update donor databases.
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- Develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs.
- Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective fundraisers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Annual Giving Coordinator
- Annual Giving Officer
- Campaign Fundraiser
- Capital Campaign Fundraiser
- Community Fundraiser
- Contract Grant Writer
- Development Associate
- Development Coordinator
Employment and Demand
There are about 302,572 fundraisers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +12.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Fundraisers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $118,069 |
| Hourly median | $56.76 |
| 10th percentile | $84,684 |
| 25th percentile | $101,376 |
| 75th percentile | $134,761 |
| 90th percentile | $151,453 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Fundraisers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $80,810 |
| New York | $77,480 |
| Minnesota | $76,020 |
| Massachusetts | $74,370 |
| Nebraska | $74,270 |
| New Jersey | $74,230 |
| Washington | $73,840 |
| Colorado | $73,280 |
| Maryland | $72,740 |
| Connecticut | $71,850 |
| District of Columbia | $70,860 |
| New Hampshire | $70,220 |
| North Dakota | $70,210 |
| Vermont | $69,950 |
| Delaware | $67,560 |
| Rhode Island | $67,390 |
| Virginia | $67,010 |
| Indiana | $65,710 |
| Maine | $65,620 |
| Georgia | $65,420 |
| South Dakota | $64,910 |
| Wisconsin | $64,000 |
| Michigan | $63,990 |
| New Mexico | $63,740 |
| Illinois | $63,360 |
| Oklahoma | $63,330 |
| North Carolina | $62,990 |
| Nevada | $62,670 |
| Florida | $62,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,360 |
| Kansas | $62,290 |
| South Carolina | $62,240 |
| Ohio | $62,190 |
| Arizona | $62,010 |
| Alaska | $61,990 |
| Oregon | $61,760 |
| Missouri | $61,640 |
| Hawaii | $61,030 |
| Kentucky | $60,680 |
| Utah | $60,610 |
| Wyoming | $60,520 |
| Idaho | $60,220 |
| Iowa | $59,890 |
| Montana | $59,750 |
| Texas | $58,320 |
| Alabama | $55,920 |
| Mississippi | $52,040 |
| West Virginia | $51,340 |
| Tennessee | $48,170 |
| Louisiana | $47,820 |
| Arkansas | $46,670 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,550 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for fundraisers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $76,388 | 15.6% | 1.00 |
| Middle Atlantic | $72,380 | 22.5% | 1.92 |
| New England | $72,269 | 9.4% | 2.12 |
| Plains States | $68,739 | 6.8% | 1.10 |
| Rocky Mountains | $67,823 | 4.3% | 1.22 |
| Great Lakes | $63,634 | 14.3% | 1.00 |
| Southeast | $61,054 | 20.2% | 0.90 |
| Southwest | $59,783 | 6.9% | 0.55 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $104,000 | 940 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $90,950 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $90,850 | 2,150 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $87,090 | 70 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $85,230 | 110 |
| Chico, CA | CA | $84,430 | 40 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $84,080 | 150 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $83,560 | 210 |
Which Industries Hire Fundraisers
The bulk of fundraisers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 32,940 | $69,980 |
| Educational Services | 26,320 | $72,740 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 21,380 | $62,410 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 7,100 | $60,860 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4,840 | $66,130 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 3,110 | $75,800 |
| Information | 1,620 | $68,650 |
| Finance and Insurance | 940 | $92,390 |
Below are examples of industries where fundraisers work:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of fundraisers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Contact With Others
How to Become Fundraisers
Most fundraisers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Financial Managers (Supplemental)
- Investment Fund Managers (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (Primary-Short)
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for fundraisers typically earn programs in:
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
4 programs across 2 majors
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
3 programs across 3 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers).
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