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Fundraisers
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.
Other titles employers use
Contract Grant Writer · Development Associate · Development Officer · Direct Response Consultant · Fundraising Consultant · Grant Coordinator · Philanthropy Officer · Principal Gifts Officer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, helping and organizing work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Persuasion
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Communications and Media
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.3 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.2 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.7 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 91%
- A master's degree 9%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 13,480
- Job openings each year
- 230
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 20.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 13,480 | 230 | 20.1% |
| Texas | 11,820 | 940 | 11.0% |
| California | 11,700 | 930 | 12.5% |
| Colorado | 8,170 | 650 | 10.7% |
| Florida | 7,370 | 590 | 12.5% |
| Ohio | 6,130 | 460 | 3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 5,470 | 410 | 4.4% |
| Wisconsin | 5,230 | 410 | 9.0% |
| Missouri | 5,020 | 350 | −4.6% |
| Washington | 4,340 | 450 | 22.9% |
| Illinois | 4,150 | 310 | 5.1% |
| Maryland | 3,440 | 270 | 10.6% |
| Georgia | 3,370 | 270 | 10.9% |
| Indiana | 3,250 | 250 | 7.6% |
| Michigan | 2,990 | 220 | 3.5% |
| Alabama | 2,910 | 220 | 7.0% |
| North Carolina | 2,800 | 230 | 13.4% |
| Minnesota | 2,740 | 210 | 6.6% |
| Virginia | 2,720 | 210 | 6.7% |
| District of Columbia | 2,610 | 200 | 8.8% |
| Arizona | 2,070 | 170 | 12.5% |
| New Jersey | 1,960 | 150 | 6.5% |
| Massachusetts | 1,830 | 140 | 8.3% |
| Tennessee | 1,750 | 150 | 25.9% |
| Kentucky | 1,740 | 130 | 4.2% |
| Oklahoma | 1,710 | 130 | 4.9% |
| Arkansas | 1,600 | 140 | 27.0% |
| Kansas | 1,550 | 120 | 6.9% |
| South Carolina | 1,530 | 120 | 15.0% |
| Nebraska | 1,200 | 90 | 8.1% |
| Connecticut | 1,100 | 90 | 8.9% |
| Utah | 1,030 | 90 | 18.4% |
| Rhode Island | 980 | 80 | 10.1% |
| New Hampshire | 850 | 70 | 6.3% |
| Montana | 710 | 60 | 14.5% |
| Maine | 700 | 50 | −1.4% |
| Mississippi | 620 | 50 | 19.2% |
| Iowa | 610 | 50 | 10.9% |
| Delaware | 500 | 40 | 8.7% |
| Vermont | 440 | 40 | 12.8% |
| Nevada | 370 | 30 | 5.7% |
| Idaho | 320 | 30 | 18.5% |
| North Dakota | 320 | 30 | 10.3% |
| New Mexico | 300 | 30 | 25.0% |
| Louisiana | 260 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Wyoming | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| Puerto Rico | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| South Dakota | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Alaska | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Virgin Islands | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 6,435
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 3,033
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 2,781
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
University of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 1,813
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Michigan State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,495
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 2,303
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
San Jose State University
- Degrees each year
- 2,011
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
The University of Texas at Austin
- Degrees each year
- 1,111
- Admit rate
- 29%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Compare every college offering public relations, advertising, and applied communication