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Nonprofit & Philanthropy
American Red Cross, United Way, UNICEF USA
Fundraisers
Fundraisers build relationships with donors, sponsors, and community partners and then turn those relationships into money for a cause. The job is distinct because it mixes persuasion, research, writing, and event work, often in the same week. The tradeoff is clear: success depends on trust and timing, so you can do everything right and still face rejection, donor fatigue, or a slow giving cycle.
Also known as Development OfficerDevelopment CoordinatorFundraising SpecialistDevelopment AssociateAnnual Giving Officer
Median Salary
$66,490
Mean $73,130
U.S. Workforce
~106K
10.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.3%
134.4K to 140.2K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Fundraisers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~106K workers, with a median annual pay of $66,490 and roughly 10.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 134.4 K in 2024 to 140.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Development Assistant and can progress toward Vice President of Development. High-value skills usually include Salesforce, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge & CRM Databases, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets & Donor Reporting, and Mailchimp, Constant Contact & Email Campaigns, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Persuasion.
Core Responsibilities
- Meet with donors, sponsors, and community contacts at events or conferences to pitch the organization and ask for support.
- Look up potential donors to learn about their giving history, interests, and likelihood of contributing.
- Contact business leaders, public officials, and other community figures to build support for a campaign or cause.
- Keep donor records current so the team can track contributions and follow up at the right time.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Meet with donors, sponsors, and community contacts at events or conferences to pitch the organization and ask for support.
02 Look up potential donors to learn about their giving history, interests, and likelihood of contributing.
03 Contact business leaders, public officials, and other community figures to build support for a campaign or cause.
04 Keep donor records current so the team can track contributions and follow up at the right time.
05 Create campaign materials like flyers, newsletters, websites, and other content that explains the cause and encourages giving.
06 Plan and run fundraising campaigns, including annual appeals, direct mail, online auctions, and donation pages.
Industries That Hire
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Higher Education
Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Michigan
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Healthcare & Hospitals
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
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Arts, Culture & Museums
Smithsonian, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art
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Advocacy & Public Policy
ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a bachelor's degree, and BLS lists no required work experience or on-the-job training.
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Pay is fairly solid for a relationship-heavy role, with a median annual wage of $66,490 and a mean of $73,130.
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There are about 10.2 thousand annual openings, so turnover and replacement hiring create steady chances to get in.
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The work is varied: one day you may research donors, the next you may write campaign copy, run an event, or update a CRM.
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There is a clear path upward into development leadership if you can consistently bring in money and keep donors engaged.
Challenges
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The job is tied to results, so if a campaign falls short, the pressure is immediate and very visible.
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A median salary of $66,490 is decent, but it can feel modest compared with the amount of money you are expected to raise.
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Growth is only 4.3% over the 2024 to 2034 period, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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A lot of the work depends on donor mood, event attendance, and organizational reputation, which can swing from year to year.
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Routine outreach and database work can be automated or standardized over time, which can limit how much the role changes unless you move into strategy or leadership.
Career Progression
Development Assistant
0-2 years
$38K-$50K
Handles lists, mailings, basic donor updates, and event logistics while learning how fundraising teams operate.
Fundraising Coordinator
2-5 years
$51K-$72K
Runs day-to-day donor follow-up, helps manage campaigns, and keeps outreach organized; this is the tier that matches the typical median pay for the role.
Fundraising Manager THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$73K-$96K
Leads campaigns, sets targets, and may supervise staff or manage a donor portfolio.
Director of Development
8+ years
$97K-$135K
Oversees fundraising strategy, major donor relationships, and cross-team planning for a department or organization.
Vice President of Development
12+ years
$136K-$180K
Sets the long-term fundraising plan, handles top-level donor strategy, and often works closely with executive leadership.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
The standard entry point, held by 90.48% of workers in this role.
Master's degree
A smaller path into the field, held by 4.76% of workers in this role.
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Another minority path, held by 4.76% of workers in this role.
CFRE or similar fundraising certification
Some fundraisers add a professional certification to strengthen their credibility in donor-facing work.
Key Skills
Technical
Salesforce, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge & CRM Databases 88%
Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets & Donor Reporting 84%
Mailchimp, Constant Contact & Email Campaigns 82%
Prospect Research Tools & Wealth Screening 80%
WordPress, CMS Platforms & Donation Pages 78%
Meta Ads, Google Ads & Digital Fundraising 76%
Event Registration Platforms & Ticketing Tools 74%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningPersuasionWritingNegotiationRelationship Building Job Outlook and Trends
+4.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
10.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 134.4K to 140.2 K over the next decade, representing 4.3% growth. Around 10.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.