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.
Also called: Annual Giving Coordinator, Annual Giving Officer, Campaign Fundraiser, Capital Campaign Fundraiser, Community Fundraiser, Contract Grant Writer
Median pay
$72,550
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$46,630 – $115,820
People employed
111,040
Holland code
ESC
Enterprising · Social · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 2.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 3.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 4.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 5.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Fundraisers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What fundraisers do
- 01Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
- 02Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
- 03Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
- 04Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
- 05Create or update donor databases.
- 06Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Communications and Media
Work styles that stand out
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Empathy
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from fundraisers
- Fundraising Managers95% · +73%
- Public Relations Specialists93% · +3%
- Public Relations Managers93% · +102%
- Advertising and Promotions Managers92% · +84%
- Sales Managers91% · +104%
Change into fundraisers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Public Relations Specialists90% · $74,750
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents82% · $78,660
- Credit Counselors80% · $52,230
- Talent Directors80% · $90,360
- Advertising Sales Agents79% · $64,820
Majors that lead here
- Communication, General
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Public Relations/Image Management
- Political Communication
- Research Administration
- Grantsmanship
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.