Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business Management & Administration; Marketing
Interests: Charitable Work; Business & Finance
Earnings (Yearly Average): $59,610
Employment & Outlook: Much Faster Than Average Growth Expected
Overview
Sphere of Work
Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization, including arts organizations that support musicians. They also may design promotional materials and increase awareness of an organization’s work, goals, and financial needs.
Work Environment
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, concerts, and dinners.
Occupation Interest
Fundraisers are outgoing, sociable, and enjoy interacting with others. They are confident, detail-oriented, and good with numbers and finance. A passion for the cause being fundraised, such as music specifically and the arts in general, is also an asset.
Profile
Working Conditions: Both Inside and Outside
Physical Strength: Light Work; Medium Work
Education Needs: Bachelor’s Degree
Licensure/Certification: Varies By State
Opportunities for Experience: Internship; Volunteer Work
Interest Score: ECA
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities
Fundraisers 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 must create a strong fundraising message that appeals to potential donors, utilizing in-person events and an online presence to raise donations.
Most fundraisers raise funds for an organization that employs them directly, although some fundraisers work for consulting firms that have many clients. Most fundraisers work full time. Some attend fundraising events on nights and weekends, possibly requiring additional hours.
Fundraisers also must be in full compliance with state and federal regulations, as failing to do so may result in penalties.
Duties and Responsibilities
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Researching prospective donors
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Creating a strong fundraising message that appeals to potential donors
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Identifying and contacting potential donors
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Organizing campaigns or events and using online platforms to raise donations
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Maintaining records of donor information
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Evaluating the success of previous fundraising events
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Training volunteers in fundraising procedures and practices
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Ensuring that all legal reporting requirements are satisfied
Occupation Specialties
Annual Campaign Fundraisers
Annual campaign fundraisers solicit donations once a year for their organization. Many nonprofit organizations have annual giving campaigns.
Capital Campaign Fundraisers
Capital Campaign Fundraisers raise money for a specific project, such as the construction of a new building at a university, or a new animal shelter. Capital campaigns also raise money for renovations and the creation or expansion of an endowment.
Major-gifts Fundraisers
Major-gifts fundraisers specialize in face-to-face interaction with donors who can give large amounts.
Planned-giving Fundraisers
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
Immediate Physical Environment
The majority of fundraisers work for religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations. However, other fields require fundraising as well, including educational services, healthcare and social assistance, arts and entertainment, and administrative and support services.
Work is typically conducted in offices, although travel may be required when attending or participating in fundraising events. These events may include charity runs, walks, galas, concerts, and dinners. Events such as runs, walks, and golf tournaments may require physical exertion in varying weather conditions if the fundraiser takes part in the event itself. Fundraisers may work closely with musicians and others in the music industry if the fundraising event involves a concert or other musical performance.
Human Environment
Fundraisers must, by their very nature, be comfortable interacting with others. Soliciting donations requires personal contact, either face-to-face, or by phone or email. Strong communication skills, both oral and written, are very important.
Technological Environment
More than ever, fundraisers relay on computer technology to solicit donations. This can be something as simple as email, or as complex as a broad online marketing strategy. Social media is almost sure to play a role in campaigns, so familiarity with different platforms is an asset.
In addition, fundraisers must be comfortable using database software to maintain records of donor information. Customer relationship management (CRM) software may also be used during campaigns, such as Microsoft Dynamics, Constant Contact, DonorPerfect, and Raiser’s Edge.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary
High school students seeking a career as a fundraiser should take business-oriented courses if possible, as well as English. Volunteer opportunities are also important, especially when pursuing a career as a specific type of fundraiser, such as raising funds for arts-related nonprofits. Volunteer positions provide students with a chance to work in the field, likely under a paid fundraiser, in order to gain relevant experience and insight into the chosen field.
Suggested High School Subjects
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Economics
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English
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History
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Math
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Physics
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Psychology
Related Career Pathways/Majors
Business Management & Administration Career Cluster
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Business Information Management Pathway
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Human Resources Management Pathway
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Administrative Support Pathway
Marketing, Sales & Service Career Cluster
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Marketing Management Pathway
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Professional Sales Pathway
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Marketing Communications Pathway
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Marketing Research Pathway
Transferable Skills and Abilities
Communication Skills
Detail-oriented
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Dealing with large volumes of data, including lists of people’s names and phone numbers
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Complying with state and federal regulations
Interpersonal Skills
Organizational Skills
Postsecondary
Fundraisers typically need a bachelor’s degree and strong communication and organizational skills. Employers generally prefer candidates who have studied public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business. Degrees in other subjects also may be acceptable.
Related College Majors
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Business
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Communications
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English
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Journalism
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Public Relations
Adult Job Seekers
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.
Professional Certification and Licensure
Laws vary by state, but many states require some types of fundraisers to register with a state authority. In addition, organizations may be required to file periodic financial reports. State laws may impose additional requirements on fundraising activity involving paid solicitors and fundraising counsel.
Fundraisers may wish to contact the appropriate state agency to learn more about the requirements that may apply in their state, before soliciting contributions. In some states, municipal or other local governments may also require organizations soliciting charitable contributions to register and report.
Earnings and Advancement
Earnings of fundraisers depend on the sector and nature of the organization for which the fundraiser works. The median annual wage for fundraisers was $59,610 in 2020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,320.
Fundraisers may receive paid vacations, holidays, and sick days; life and health insurance; and retirement benefits. These are usually paid by the employer.
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.
Employment and Outlook
Fundraisers held about 100,600 jobs nationally in 2019. Forty-one percent were employed by religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations, while 21 percent were employed in the field of educational services. The remainder were employed by healthcare, arts and entertainment, and administrative and support services organizations.
Employment is expected to grow much faster than average through the year 2029, with a projected increase of 14 percent. Employment growth will be driven by the continued need of nonprofit organizations to collect donations in order to run their operations, especially animal welfare organizations that rely heavily on donations for funding.
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.
Job prospects for fundraisers are expected to be good because organizations are always looking to raise more donations. Candidates with internship or volunteer experience in nonprofit and grantmaking organizations should have better job opportunities.
Related Occupations
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Advertising/Promotions/Marketing Manager
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Meeting/Convention/Event Planner
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Public Relations/Fundraising Manager
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Public Relations Specialists
Conversation With... JAN WILSON
Executive Director
International Conductors Guild
In the field, 31 years
What was your individual career path in terms of education/training, entry-level job, or other significant opportunity?
There are a variety of career paths available in the music business. In addition to my work as an arts administrator, I am also a professional Mezzo-Soprano, so I combine my day work with lots of evening and weekend concert work. I studied Music Education with a voice emphasis for my Bachelor of Music Education degree at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, then went on to graduate school at Penn State to focus solely on voice. After graduate school, my voice teacher told me to find a way to get to Europe to do some studying, so I applied for and received a fellowship to study voice at the Royal College of Music, London, where I sang with some of the most amazing conductors, including Sir David Willcocks, and in some of the most amazing places. When I returned to the United States, I sang for many voice competitions and was able to teach voice at two universities. I loved teaching voice lessons and voice classes, but it is incredibly tiring on the voice, so I knew I wanted to do something else. I also realized, after doing several opera competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera (MET) competition, that I really didn’t like singing opera all that much. Instead, I prefer to sing large orchestral works for solo voice, oratorio, and recitals. Not everyone who studies voice becomes an opera singer! Meanwhile, a local symphony orchestra needed a new executive director. I applied and got the job. That was the start of my work in arts administration.
What are the most important skills and/or qualities for someone in your profession?
Having the ability to think clearly, to listen clearly, and communicate well with a variety of people is incredibly important. Computer skills are necessary, but you also need to know something about music—specifically classical music, if you manage a symphony orchestra. Communication by phone, in person, and lastly via email is the most important skill in arts administration.
What do you wish you had known going into this profession?
I didn’t know the arts management profession existed when I began my initial music studies. I knew there were performers, and there were teachers. If it had been available, I probably would have liked to take arts management courses in college.
Are there many job opportunities in your profession? In what specific areas?
There are numerous job opportunities in arts management—everything from top, executive management, to operations managers who set up the chairs on stage and make sure everyone knows where they are to sit or stand. Gaining experience in any of these areas—development, marketing, technology, human resources, executive management, operations—is essential to developing an arts management career.
How do you see your profession changing in the next five years, how will technology shift, and what skills will be required?
Finding funding is becoming much more challenging so any technical skills we can add to our development skills will be of a huge help. Our donors are getting older and the new donors like technology, so we’ll have to incorporate new skills along with dealing with new donors. Arts administrators are always regrouping and finding new ways to handle everything. It’s part of the job.
What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you enjoy least about your job?
The people I interact with daily are super talented and genuinely nice. Making things happen for people and helping them to do a better job is something I truly enjoy.
It is extremely challenging building a personal life around an arts administration job. If you manage an orchestra or other ensemble in a community, you will always see donors or patrons, everywhere you go. And you’re expected to be everywhere and go everywhere. It can be exhausting if you don’t take some time for yourself. I really dislike writing grants, but it is part of the job. If you could just talk with funders about the work that you’re doing—those who really want to support the work—it would be so much simpler and clearer than writing endless grants to funders who never read them.
Can you suggest a valuable “try this” for students considering a career in your profession?
Volunteer to be an intern with an arts group’s executive director or manager. Spend a week with them, at their desk, at the Rotary Club, making speeches; folding thank you letters; running labels; sorting mail to be sent to a zillion patrons; creating ads for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Watch and help. Ask how you can help. Learn to type with both hands! You MUST be able to type very quickly! Answer the phone a few times, talk to a few board members, talk to other staff, find out what everyone does and if they need some help. You will find nonprofit managers and executive directors everywhere in your community. Contact one today and jump right in!
Conversation With... CATHLEEN PARTLOW STRAUSS
Director of Conservatory Communications and freelance cellist
Oberlin College and Conservatory, Oberlin, OH
In the field, 35 years—performance, education, and arts administration
What was your individual career path in terms of education/training, entry-level job, or other significant opportunity?
I was drawn to music as a very young child and couldn’t wait to begin piano lessons. I was exposed to additional violin and cello instruction in my public elementary school. By middle school, I became quite dedicated to the cello, so in high school my private cello teacher and my parents made it possible for me to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy. There, my world was opened to the possibilities of a professional life in music. I always felt I needed variety in my life, so I thought I’d balance out my career in teaching and performance. For my undergraduate degree, I went to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, focusing on chamber music and music theory. I searched for and found a graduate assistantship to cover my master’s degree study at the University of South Carolina, where I was a member of their first Graduate String Quartet. During these years, I discovered my aptitude for organizing and communicating, and was happy putting together small concert tours and outreach concerts for my chamber music groups. I also started teaching private cello students—something I would continue to do for more than 25 years. Just as I was beginning graduate school, I also won an audition for the principal cello position of the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra. It was incredibly eye-opening and allowed me to build leadership skills and develop more confidence as a cellist and performer. I also learned time management skills and the benefit of multiple streams of income. Following graduate school, I founded and managed a professional piano trio that performed and toured together for a decade. I also won an audition to serve as a Visiting Artist for the state of North Carolina for four years. In this role, I organized and provided cultural arts programming in communities and schools across the state and collaborated with artists of many disciplines. Through this experience, I gained broad administrative skills in community engagement, communications, grant writing, fundraising, and working within educational and non-profit structures that led me to positions in fundraising and communications in community-based cultural arts organizations and in higher education. And today I continue to perform in regional orchestras and in chamber music ventures.
What are the most important skills and/or qualities for someone in your profession?
Organizational and time-management skills are the most important attributes of someone in my line of work. After that, responsibility and accountability are the two things most important to establishing your credibility. You must be responsible and accountable to yourself, to the music you have dedicated yourself to performing, to your collaborators, to the schools and communities in which you create and support programming, and to the funders and advocates of the arts that have supported these programs and activities.
What do you wish you had known going into this profession?
I wish I had known earlier about the importance of building a professional network, and that I was more attentive to and intentional in developing a wider and deeper circle of mentors and contacts.
Are there many job opportunities in your profession? In what specific areas?
There are many jobs in arts administration in the areas of communications and fundraising, both in higher education, in community cultural arts organizations, and in firms dedicated to artist management and promotion. There are also entrepreneurial opportunities to strike out on one’s own and create agencies dedicated to musician management and promotion, as well as creating arts organizations that define and enhance the communities in which they are located.
How do you see your profession changing in the next five years, how will technology shift, and what skills will be required?
The arts field is as imaginative as musician-artists are and the field is always changing. These changes are in response to the communities in which organizations are based or founded or take advantage of the natural resources within an area.
What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you enjoy least about your job?
The variety of the work makes every day new and interesting. Sometimes the number of projects is overwhelming, and the tasks to complete for each project are very time consuming, making for some very long days.
Can you suggest a valuable “try this” for students considering a career in your profession?
Volunteer in the administrative offices or shadow a professional at one of the performing arts organizations in your community; work on a performance or outreach project with your band, orchestra, or jazz ensemble; create your own ensemble and define a mission or purpose for it (perhaps organizing regular performances at a senior citizen residential center or preschool Head Start program). Take on the responsibility to create promotional materials to reach out to these organizations, and let the media know it’s happening.