### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Fundraisers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			fundraisers imageFundraisers plan and oversee campaigns and events to raise money and other donations for an organization.							
						Quick Facts:     Fundraisers2023     Median Pay
            						$64,160     per year
										$30.85     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    124,000Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    6,500What Fundraisers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Fundraisers work primarily for nonprofit organizations, including educational institutions, religious organizations, health research foundations, social services organizations, and political campaigns. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Fundraiser
                                                
                        
Fundraisers typically need a bachelor’s degree and strong communication and organizational skills. Employers may prefer candidates who have studied public relations, communications, English, or business.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for fundraisers was $64,160 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of fundraisers is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 9,900 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for fundraisers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of fundraisers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about fundraisers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Fundraisers Do 
            

			fundraisers imageFundraisers must create a strong fundraising message that appeals to potential donors.			
Fundraisers organize events and campaigns 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 satisfiedFundraisers plan and oversee campaigns and events to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization. They ensure that campaigns are effective by researching potential donors and examining records of those who have given in the past.
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 fundraisers:
***Annual campaign fundraisers*** solicit donations once a year for their organization. Many nonprofit organizations have annual giving campaigns.
***Capital campaign fundraisers*** raise money for a specific project, 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 fundraisers*** specialize in face-to-face interaction with donors who can give large amounts.
***Planned-giving fundraisers*** solicit donations from those who are looking to pledge money at a future date or in installments over time. These fundraisers must have specialized training in taxes regarding gifts of stocks, bonds, charitable annuities, and real estate bequests in a will.
 Work Environment
			fundraisers imageFundraisers spend much of their time communicating with potential donors.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Fundraisers held about 124,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of fundraisers were as follows:
        Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                42%Educational services; state, local, and private
                22Healthcare and social assistance
                16Arts, entertainment, and recreation
                6Most fundraisers raise funds for an organization which employs them directly, although some fundraisers work for consulting firms that have many clients.
Fundraisers spend much of their time communicating with other employees and potential donors, either in person, on the phone, or through email.
Some fundraisers may need to travel to locations where fundraising events are held. Events may include charity runs, walks, galas, and dinners.
Work Schedules
Most fundraisers work full time. Some attend fundraising events on nights and weekends, possibly requiring additional hours.
 How to Become a Fundraiser

			fundraisers imageFundraisers typically need a bachelor's degree and strong communication skills.			
Fundraisers typically need a bachelor’s degree and strong communication and organizational skills. Employers may prefer candidates who have studied public relations, communications, English, or business.
Education
Although fundraisers have a variety of academic backgrounds, common bachelor’s degree fields include communications, business, and social science. Degrees in other subjects also are acceptable.
Other Experience
Internships and previous work experience are important in obtaining a paid position as a fundraiser. Many fundraising campaigns rely on volunteers having face-to-face or over-the-phone interaction with potential donors. It is important for the fundraiser who organizes the campaign to have experience with this type of work.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Laws vary by state, but many states require some types of fundraisers to register with a state authority. Check with your state for more information.
Advancement
Fundraisers can advance to fundraising manager positions. However, some manager positions may also require a master’s degree, in addition to years of work experience as a fundraiser.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Fundraisers need strong communication skills to clearly explain the message and goals of their organization so that people will make donations.
***Detail oriented.*** Fundraisers must be detail oriented because they deal with large volumes of data, including lists of people’s names and phone numbers, and must comply with state and federal regulations. Failing to do so may result in penalties.
***Interpersonal skills.***Fundraisers need strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain relationships with donors.
***Organizational skills.*** Fundraisers manage large campaigns and events. They must have strong planning and organizational skills in order to succeed.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                FundraisersMedian annual wages, May 2023Business operations specialists$78,500  Fundraisers$64,160  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for fundraisers was $64,160 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,440, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $106,700.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for fundraisers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Educational services; state, local, and private
                $68,610Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                65,830Healthcare and social assistance
                59,310Arts, entertainment, and recreation
                58,750Most fundraisers work full time. Some attend fundraising events on nights and weekends, possibly requiring additional hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                FundraisersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Business operations specialists6%  Fundraisers5%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of fundraisers is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 9,900 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.
			Employment
	
			
Employment growth will be driven by the continued need of nonprofit organizations to collect donations in order to run their operations.
Many nonprofit organizations are focusing on cultivating an online presence and are increasingly using social media for fundraising activities. As a result, social media platforms have created new avenues for fundraisers to connect with potential donors and to spread their organization’s message.
			

                        Employment projections data for     fundraisers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Fundraisers**
			13-1131
			124,000
			130,500
			5
			6,500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Fundraisers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of fundraisers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers**
            Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.
            Bachelor's degree
            $156,580**Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners**
            Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings.
            Bachelor's degree
            $56,920**Public Relations and Fundraising Managers**
            Public relations managers direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,480**Public Relations Specialists**
            Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the clients they represent.
            Bachelor's degree
            $66,750
 Contacts for More Information
								
The *Handbook* does not have contacts for more information for this occupation.

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Fundraisers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fundraisers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/fundraisers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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