Fundraisers

SOC Code: 13-1131
Also known as:
Annual Giving Coordinator, Annual Giving Officer, Campaign Fundraiser, Capital Campaign Fundraiser, Community Fundraiser
Median Annual Salary
$66,490
+4.3% growth (2024-2034)
10K
Openings/Year
134K
Current Jobs

What Fundraisers Do

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.

💰 Salary

$66,490
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+4.3%
Faster than average

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

10K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

134,400

Projected Employment (2034)

140,200

Related Careers

Advertising and promotions managers

$126,960 • -2.2% growth

Fundraising managers

$123,480 • +4.2% growth

Public relations specialists

$69,780 • +4.8% growth

Top Skills Required

Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Persuasion

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Conduct research to identify the goals, net worth, charitable donation history, or other data related to potential donors, potential investors, or general donor markets.
  • Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.

Technology & Tools

Facebook Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Salesforce software Structured query language SQL

📚 Entry-Level Education

Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Fundraisers

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a fundraisers:

Marketing/Marketing Management, General

50,466 degrees awarded • 957 colleges offer this program

Communication, General

11,299 degrees awarded • 366 colleges offer this program

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

4,077 degrees awarded • 162 colleges offer this program

Public Relations/Image Management

4,061 degrees awarded • 152 colleges offer this program

Political Communication

211 degrees awarded • 8 colleges offer this program

Grantsmanship

13 degrees awarded • 2 colleges offer this program

Best Colleges for Becoming a Fundraisers

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become fundraisers.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 270 A+
2 University of Georgia Athens, GA 661 A
3 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 649 A
4 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 365 A
5 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 296 A
6 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 252 A
7 Boston University Boston, MA 241 A
8 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 223 A
9 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 890 B+
10 Florida International University Miami, FL 777 B+
11 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 696 B+
12 University of South Florida Tampa, FL 618 B+
13 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 546 B+
14 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 524 B+
15 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN 468 B+
16 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 427 B+
17 Clemson University Clemson, SC 406 B+
18 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 394 B+
19 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX 307 B+
20 University of California-Davis Davis, CA 301 B+

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do fundraisers make?
The median annual salary for fundraisers is $66,490.
What education do fundraisers need?
Most fundraisers positions require a bachelor's degree. Common degree programs include Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Communication, General, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Is becoming fundraisers a good career choice?
Fundraisers is projected to see +4.3% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 10,200 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for fundraisers?
Top colleges for aspiring fundraisers include University of California-Los Angeles, University of Georgia, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Florida, The University of Texas at Austin. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to fundraisers?
Fundraisers may also be known as: Annual Giving Coordinator, Annual Giving Officer, Campaign Fundraiser, Capital Campaign Fundraiser, Community Fundraiser, Contract Grant Writer, Development Associate, Development Coordinator, Development Officer, Direct Response Consultant, Donation Coordinator, Donation Specialist, Donor Officer, Donor Relations Officer, Donor Specialist, Fundraiser, Fundraising Associate, Fundraising Consultant, Fundraising Coordinator, Fundraising Officer. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.