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Career Description

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.

What Job Titles Fundraisers Might Have

• Development Director
• Direct Response Consultant
• Director of Development
• Executive Director of Development
• Gift Planning

What Fundraisers Do

• Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
• Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
• Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
• Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.
• Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
• Create or update donor databases.
• Direct or supervise fundraising staff, including volunteer staff members.
• Develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs.
• Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
• Monitor progress of fundraising drives.
• Conduct research to identify the goals, net worth, history of charitable donations, or other data related to potential donors, potential investors, or general donor markets.
• Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.
• Establish fundraising or participation goals for special events or specified time periods.
• Monitor budgets, expense reports, or other financial data for fundraising organizations.
• Contact corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders to increase awareness of organizational causes, activities, or needs.
• Recruit sponsors, participants, or volunteers for fundraising events.
• Write reports or prepare presentations to communicate fundraising program data.
• Design or produce materials such as posters, Web sites, or newsletters to promote, market, or advertise fundraising events.
• Write speeches, press releases, or other promotional materials to increase awareness of the causes, missions, or goals of organizations seeking funds.
• Explain the tax advantages of contributions to potential donors.
• Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
• Attend community events, meetings, or conferences to promote organizational goals or solicit donations or sponsorships.
• Direct or coordinate web-based fundraising activities, such as online auctions or donation Web sites.

What Fundraisers Should Be Good At

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Fundraisers Should Be Interested In

• Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

What Fundraisers Need to Learn

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.