Fundraising is an essential part of many organizations; it aids them in keeping programs that they would otherwise be unable to support. Take for instance the sports program at your local school or college. Many times there are not sufficient funds to cover equipment needs or fuel for buses to go to away games.
Fundraising Job Description
The first thing you should know before pursuing a career in this particular field is what may be required of you. Below is a sample listing of common charity fundraising position responsibilities:
- Reaching agreed upon money raising goals
- Approaching various people and organizations for charitable donations
- Holding events aimed at achieving donations such as a charity auction or dinner
- Developing relationships with current donors to increase their giving through fresh ideas
- Organizing traditional methods of fundraising such as house-to-house collection
- Raising community awareness of what the charity does through seminars or informal talks
- Working closely with others in the community such as church groups, civic organizations, and leaders in the community
- Developing strategies to increase giving of corporate sponsors
- Budgeting
- Preparing reports for both the charity and the people who are supporting the charity
Essential Skills
Not everyone is cut out for this type of work. There is a strong need for good interpersonal skills. If you do not like working with people this is probably not the field for you.
Organizational skills are also an absolute must for jobs in fundraising. You will be responsible for hosting events, coordinating volunteers, and keeping extensive records. Everything will need to be well documented for tax purposes, so accounting is also an essential factor. Having hands-on knowledge of what is coming in versus going out will be at the center of your fundraising job.
Creativity is also high on the priority list. People quickly tire of the same old programs and events; it will be your job to keep their interest. Along with events, you will need to be able to pull together good public relations and advertising campaigns.
Finally, a passion for the charity is important, even though it may not be listed on the fundraiser job description. The more you care about the charity the harder you will work to raise money for it. In fact, passion for the charity will go further to get someone a job in fundraising than will experience or education. An interviewer will choose a person dedicated to the mission of the charity over a person with extended education nearly every time. That is not to say you should forego education, but rather pair it with your passion.
Passion for the Charity
The best way to find out what you are passionate about is to volunteer with different organizations. This will give you a feeling not only for what they do, but also how they do it. You can love the cause and be less than enthused about a particular organization.
Choose a charity that fits in with what is important to you. For instance, fundraising jobs for a hospital may pay very well, but if you are a person who is into holistic healing, you may not have a drive to raise money for the hospital. The same rule applies for college fundraising jobs or the humane society; forget the potential pay scale and look more at personal fulfillment. The bottom line is, if you do not care for the charity, it will show through to the people you are working with and, worse than that, to potential donors.
Education
There is no degree that you can purse in fundraising. However, there are courses and degrees that would be beneficial. Accounting is a great field to take some courses in, because there are many instances where you will be expected to weigh the budget and make changes accordingly. You would not necessarily need an accounting degree, but some knowledge would be helpful. Business management is also a great area to receive some extended education in. In this field you will be managing other people, both compensated workers and volunteers. Knowing how to manage people will make you more successful in fundraising jobs.
Compensation
The total of your compensation will depend on the charity or organization and, of course, on your experience. Starting pay for jobs in fundraising can be as little as $13,000 annually or as much as $60,000 or more.
College Fundraising
It should be noted that positions in college fundraising jobs are gaining prominence. For one thing, college towns are usually very nice places to live, and they are practically immune to economic slowdowns. Not to mention, the compensation can be substantial. Of course, the choice of fundraising job should not be completely dependent on status or circumstances. But if you have a passion for helping underprivileged people attain a degree, then this is an area that is growing fast.
Conclusion
Fundraising jobs can be rewarding on both a personal level and a monetary one. Spend some time with one or more of your favorite charities and you may find the career you have always dreamed of. How many executives can go home at the end of a day and feel wonderful about their accomplishments?
