Fundraising Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Also called: Account Manager, Account Supervisor, Advancement Director, Annual Giving Director, Campaign Manager, Canvass Director
Median pay
$125,470
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$75,130 – $222,350
People employed
38,810
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
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.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 5.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 6.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 7.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Fundraising Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (47 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What fundraising managers do
- 01Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- 02Manage fundraising budgets.
- 03Direct activities of external agencies, establishments, or departments that develop and implement fundraising strategies and programs.
- 04Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.
- 05Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
- 06Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
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 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
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 fundraising managers
- Financial Managers91% · +33%
- Compensation and Benefits Managers86% · +19%
- Treasurers and Controllers84% · group pay
- Personal Financial Advisors81% · −16%
- Human Resources Managers80% · +19%
Change into fundraising managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Fundraisers95% · $72,550
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners87% · $61,160
- Public Relations Specialists87% · $74,750
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes86% · $82,890
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents84% · $78,660
Majors that lead here
- Communication, General
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Public Relations/Image Management
- Communication Management and Strategic Communications
- Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Grantsmanship
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.