What is a Fundraising Manager?
Fundraising Managers are in charge of their organisation’s fundraising efforts. They work for a charity or another form of non-profit organisation (such as a university). Their responsibilities vary greatly depending on the size of the organisation. They may have exclusive responsibility for the whole scope of fundraising efforts in smaller charities, or they may have a fundraising staff to care for in a larger organisation.
Fundraising Managers differ from many other fundraising positions in that they often work for small to medium-sized nonprofits that cover a variety of income sources rather than focusing on just one. As a consequence, they have a diverse set of skills and a deep understanding of various fundraising platforms, which may make them highly appealing to future employers.
A Fundraising Manager will monitor the progress of each effort as well as the organisations’ progress toward its fundraising objectives. They’ll also make sure that all fundraising activities are in line with the organisations’ department budget as well as any fundraising rules and procedures they helped design.
Fundraising Managers have a lot of contact with the general public. As a result, it’s critical that they feel at ease in social situations, public speaking, and attending events. It’s critical to be able to speak effectively and eloquently, as well as to stay current on social, political, and newsworthy issues in order to participate in meaningful dialogues with potential donors.
With the shifting economic situation, fundraisers have had to change their tactics in order to be more effective at identifying the correct revenue streams. They need to always work on expanding their expertise and capacities. Fundraising Managers need to supervise, as well as to guarantee that they are providing strategic management and leadership in the coordination of a portfolio of revenue-generating operations.
Responsibilities
Fundraising Managers responsibilities will vary depending on the type of organisation that they work for and its size.
Some of the general responsibilities will include the following:
- Researching fundraising opportunities and submitting grant applications to charitable trusts or statutory organisations
- Managing your own budget and ensuring objectives are fulfilled
- Establishing and maintaining connections with significant contributors or corporations
- Preparing and presenting presentations
- Recruiting, organising, and motivating volunteers
- Creating and coordinating fundraising campaigns, events, and door-to-door collections
- Ensuring significant contributors or corporations are delighted with their donation program (such as charity of the year partnerships) and are kept informed of progress and critical milestones.
- Increasing awareness of the organisations work
- Building positive connections with personnel, the general public, and the media.
- Attending and organising non-profit events, as well as networking with key stakeholders.
- As needed, writing, submitting and uploading press releases.
Salary
The average salary for Fundraising Managers in the UK is £30,595.50. Salary is also determined by the industry in which the Fundraising Manager works. The average salary according to industry is as follows:
- Advertising and Marketing- £27,158.00
- Agriculture- £20,247.00
- Education- £29,299.40
- Healthcare- £21,785.27
- Hospitality- £37,106.57
- HR Services- £41,308.23
- Manufacturing- £31,370.89
- Recruitment- £37,021.66
- Social Care- £35,065.46
- Technology- £29,394.43
- Combined- £30,595.50
- Other- £33,760.63
Different organisations will provide different perks to their employees, however as a Fundraising Manager, you may have the following extra advantages:
- Working remotely is common in the employment of a fundraising manager because you’re likely to travel for meetings on a regular basis.
- Working from home is also becoming more frequent.
- It’s feasible to work part-time and take a professional sabbatical.
- After a few years of expertise, self-employment and freelance consulting are common.
If you work as an area fundraiser, you may be expected to drive a lot as part of your job, thus you may be given a car or a car allowance.
Working hours and work location
A Fundraising Managers weekly working hours are generally 35-40 hours, although the precise number may vary depending on the charity.
Larger charities may be able to provide more flexible working hours. However, you may be required to work on weekends and evenings to prepare for and attend events, in which case you will usually be compensated with time off.
Working outside of normal business hours is frequently essential, for example, to attend evening or weekend activities and meetings. Most of the time, fundraising managers are on the road, moving from meeting to meeting and event to event.
Fundraising Managers usually require a private office, a team meeting room, and a space for their team to operate alone.
Office space may range from opulent to simple, depending on the size of the company.
Qualifications
For the position of Fundraising Manager, you’ll normally require at least three years of experience in the field.
An undergraduate degree is preferred, but job-related certifications like those granted by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising might be even more valuable. The Certificate in Fundraising and the Diploma in Fundraising are two of them.
A Master of Public Administration will additionally ensure that you get employment of your choice in Fundraising Management.
Furthermore, marketing, media, or business degree may also be advantageous.
Skills
In order to become a Fundraising Manager you will have to possess or acquire these skills:
must have skills:
- Communication abilities: creating creative funding applications and motivating others to support the cause.
- Interpersonal skills: you’ll be engaging with people all the time, trying to persuade them of your organisations’ value.
- Attention to detail and research skills: gathering data and statistics, investigating trends, and estimating expenditures.
- Creativity: As charities attempt to heavily rely on public attention, idea development is critical.
- Resilience and flexibility: obtaining funds can be a difficult task.
- Dedication to the cause of your charity
- Readiness to do a variety of administrative duties
- Proactive approach, drive, and excitement for completing projects
- Organisational and project management skills
- Capacity to operate under duress and to stick to deadlines
There are many skills and abilities that may be gained in the job of Fundraising Manager, but some innate talents and personal characteristics can also help people enjoy and prosper in this profession.
- An effective fundraising manager will be a good listener, paying close attention to the organisation’s requirements as well as what potential contributors have to say and want.
- They will be great team-builders whose motivating energy enables all employees, volunteers, and even contributors to work toward a common vision and objective.
- In order to seek support Fundraising Managers need charisma and excitement which may be contagious, causing others to gather around and help.
- Achieving ambitious fundraising goals involves tenacity, drive, and patience.
- Dealing with non-profit aims, as well as the sensitive nature of taking donations and other personal data, necessitates a high level of honesty and adherence to strong ethical standards on the part of Fundraising Managers.
- Complementing creative and people-oriented tendencies with a strong interest in data analytics makes for a well rounded Fundraising Manager.
- To thrive in their work and offer value to the business, a Fundraising Manager must be results-driven.
- Last but not least, Fundraising Managers are frequently passionate about becoming a force for good in the world by assisting nonprofit organisations in fueling and funding their efforts.
Work experience
A Fundraising Managers day-to-day responsibilities vary based on the sort of fundraising they do.
Discovering and interacting with potential donors, for example, involves researching the net worth, charitable aspirations, and gift history of individuals or corporations.
A fundraising manager whose organisation relies on social media to attract new contributors, on the other hand, may devote time to managing video production and other content development.
Someone who wants to raise awareness could compose press releases, talk to journalists, or create and distribute promotional materials.
Fundraising Managers might use planned giving as a means of obtaining funds. In this situation, a fundraising manager will need to be familiar with the tax consequences of different sorts of charity that might be included in someone’s estate planning.
As previously noted, for the position of Fundraising Manager, you’ll normally require at least three years of experience in the field.
Prior experience in related fields like marketing or sales, on the other hand, can occasionally be used as a replacement because they need many of the same abilities. Experience in law or accounting might help you land a legacy fundraising job.
It’s crucial to have a good understanding of the charity industry and the cause you want to work for. If you have no prior experience in the third sector, volunteering in a variety of organisations can help you develop your knowledge and abilities while also allowing you to determine which form of charity or not-for-profit organisation is ideal for you.
As a Fundraising Manager, you may have the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by your organisations’ head of fundraising or other more senior members, as well as attend training courses and sector-specific events to refresh your skills.
Career prospects
If you have your career sights set on a Fundraising Manager position, it’s important to start building your resume by getting development experience as part of an established fundraising team. You can volunteer or participate in an internship program with very little experience. After earning a master’s degree, like the Master of Public Administration (MPA) offered by the University of the West of Scotland London, you can start seeking entry-level employment opportunities in the field. A position like a fundraiser or development assistant will be a great place to start.
Your career steps after Fundraising Manager may include:
- Head of fundraising
- Head of individual giving team
- Director of fundraising
- Head of corporate fundraising
- Communications and marketing manager
According to The National Council for Voluntary Organisations in the United Kingdom, Civil Society Almanack, 2021, the voluntary sector employs 952,000 individuals, which has expanded by almost 20% in the last decade. This provides Fundraising Managers with numerous job opportunities.
Charities are common employers, though their size, structure, and purpose vary greatly.
Fundraising Managers are also employed by the following organisations:
- Hospitals
- Arts organisations
- Religious institutions
- Educational institutions
- Political parties
- Other local, national and international fundraising agencies.
Related Courses
This full-time program is offered by the University of the West of Scotland London at their London Campus. The 1-2 year course examines the business practice and functions such as accounting, finance, and human resources, as well as how they are all interconnected. This enables students to comprehend the significance of strategy and communication in a management function.
Other related courses
- BA (Hons) International Business - For this full-time program offered by the University of the West of Scotland London over the course of two years and eight months, students can pick from a choice of start dates. Students at UWS London can learn from industry experts, guest speakers, and seasoned professionals. The best part about this course is that it takes place on the London Campus, right in the heart of the United Kingdom's economic metropolis.
- Master of Public Administration (MPA) - This is a full-time program offered at the London Campus of the University of the West of Scotland, in the heart of the UK's economic hub. Through this course, which blends social science and communications, students will be prepared for work in public and third-sector organisations.
FAQ Summary
Fundraising Managers are in charge of their organisation’s fundraising efforts. They work for a charity or another form of non-profit organisation (such as a university). Their responsibilities vary greatly depending on the size of the organisation.
The average salary for Fundraising Managers in the UK is £30,595.50. Salary is also determined by the industry in which the Fundraising Manager works.
For the position of Fundraising Manager, you’ll normally require at least three years of experience in the field. An undergraduate degree is preferred.
