Fundraising jobs come in all shapes & sizes
There is so much more to this sector than collecting in the street. If you’re looking for a fundraising job then you are probably looking to make a difference with the work that you do — and to spend time doing something meaningful. The good news is that there are lots of ways to do this and the role you have will be vital to the survival of the charity you work for. Fundraisers make a huge difference and charities could not survive without them.
What do fundraisers do?
People come to fundraising jobs from a very wide range of different backgrounds. For everyone, the focus is on finding ways to generate donations that can be used to support a charity’s causes. Most charities today don’t receive any government support and wealthy donors are few and far between. That’s why fundraisers have such a vital role to play — without this income, many charities simply could not continue.
What types of fundraising exist?
- Annual Events — Think of something like Red Nose Day or Children in Need — these are annual events that are essentially a donations drive, often in return for entertainment. This kind of fundraising will target givers who prefer to make a one-off donation and like to get caught up in all the excitement of an event.
- Legacy Donations — This could be a simple gift in a will — property or money — or it could be life insurance payments.
- Monthly Giving — These are the donors who sign up to give an amount every month. It could be sizable, or it could be small — either way these donations are incredibly valuable, as they deliver monthly income for a charity.
- Corporate Donations — Companies, large and small, support charities, whether through a genuine desire to give or to fulfill CSR responsibilities and reflect the business’ culture. Sometimes companies will also match any donations made by staff.
- Payroll Giving — This is fundraising where donations are made direct from salary, before tax, which maximises the potential giving.
- Endowment or Trust Giving — Here, it’s not cash being received but something else, such as an investment.
- Large Gifts — Some big companies or philanthropists will make a single, sizable donation to a charity once a year.
What kind of fundraising jobs are out there?
In any fundraising role, the job is always going to be about proactively generating income for the charity. This will require skills, such as communication and being able to carefully nurture relationships, whether that’s with a well-known philanthropist or members of the public. Empathy, trustworthiness, as well as sales and marketing skills will be vital for most jobs. So, what kind of fundraising jobs are out there?
Types of fundraising jobs:
- Community Fundraising Jobs — This is a role that tends to focus on a single community and the heart of it is all about establishing strong relationships with people in that place. It will involve looking at the most effective ways to collect donations locally, as well as how to support the needs of the people who live there. This often involves community events, from sports events to social events, and looking at how best to market and sell them to the people who might enjoy them — and benefit from the community funding the most. Key skills for a role like this include organisation, creativity, being able to manage people like volunteers and confidence when it comes to building long-term relationships.
- Event Fundraising Jobs — Charities benefit enormously from events, both in terms of donations and also reputation. This kind of job could involve marketing and selling tickets, dealing with logistics and venues or being the creative behind the concept.
- Corporate Fundraising Jobs — Being able to skillfully identify businesses that could forge positive relationships with non-profits — and nurture those connections — is an invaluable role. There are benefits for both parties, as the charity receives financial support and the business benefits from the association with the charity. Great presentation skills are a must for this role, as well as being able to handle relationships and communicate well. Part of the job is going to be regularly keeping the corporate informed about what their donation is being used for. It will also require confidence in interacting with people of all levels, from employees to a CEO.
- Endowment/Trust Fundraising Jobs — There can be a lot of competition with this type of fundraising so it’s important to be able to skillfully pitch your cause and be comfortable with long, detailed written applications for an endowment or trust support. Being able to create funding proposals and have a vision as to where resources will be best used, is essential.
- Legacy Fundraising Jobs — Gifts in wills tend to be a sensitive area so legacy fundraisers need to be highly empathetic to be successful. It will also be important to have a good grasp of the regulations and admin that surround legacy giving.
- Large Gifts — Major donors can be transformative for a charity but they are few and far between. Working in a role like this means having strong relationship-building skills, being a great communicator, and someone who is comfortable dealing with all kinds of people, from celebrities to aristocrats. Being able to research skillfully will be key, as is an understanding of what motivates people to make large gifts.
- Digital Fundraising — Refers to the process of using digital technologies, platforms and strategies to raise funds for a cause, organisation or project. By leveraging the power of the internet and social media you can reach a wide audience and engage potential donors. Think of Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe.
- Face-to-Face Charity Fundraising — Jobs in this category encompass a whole wide range of different roles and opportunities. It could be something as simple as shaking a collection bucket on the street, for example, or it might be going door-to-door to raise awareness of the charity’s cause. Anyone doing this role needs to be comfortable interacting with people — sociable, empathetic and resilient in the face of people saying no. There is also a code of practice to work to with face-to-face fundraising.
Fundraising is a very broad area and there are so many more roles available. Face-to-face is one of the best ways into the sector, helping build transferable life-long skills. Fundraisers that have worked with Wesser in the past have gone into digital marketing, corporate and large gifts/philanthropy fundraising at major UK-based and International charities.
Want to become a Wesser Charity Fundraiser?
If you are a fun-loving, friendly individual that wants to make a real difference in the charity sector, this is the perfect role for you!
Apply for a charity fundraising job via our applications page.
Originally published at https://www.wesser.co.uk on June 27, 2023.