Fundraising Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Also called: Advancement Director · Annual Giving Director · Development Director · Donor Engagement Director · Foundation Director · Fundraising Manager
Median pay (national)
$123,480
$73,700–$216,660 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
36,920
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.2%
~3,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for fundraising managers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $216,660 versus $73,700 at the bottom 10% — 2.9x. The median of $123,480 leaves roughly 75% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.2% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 3,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 48 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $166,420, +35% vs the national median), while Arkansas sits lowest at $65,840 — a 153% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
- Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.
- Write interesting and effective press releases, prepare information for media kits, and develop and maintain company internet or intranet Web pages.
- Manage fundraising budgets.
- Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.
- Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities.
- Contact corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders to increase awareness of organizational causes, activities, or needs.
- Conduct research to identify the goals, net worth, charitable donation history, or other data related to potential donors, potential investors, or general donor markets.
Tools & technology
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Salesforce software
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Google Analytics
- HubSpot software
- Hypertext markup language HTML
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Economics and Accounting
- Communications and Media
- Personnel and Human Resources