Prepare for a donor conversation
Open the donor database to read past gifts and interests before you pick a project to mention.
Career profile
Fundraiser
Fundraisers ask people to support a cause, then keep in touch with them over time.
Could you explain a project to a possible donor and ask for a gift? Then you listen for what would make them comfortable backing it.
A day in the life
Ask a donor for support
Lay out the need, make a specific ask, and hear the donor's questions before agreeing on next steps.
Write a donation appeal email
Turn a project's needs into an email saying what a gift would cover and how someone can give.
Log a gift and draft thanks
Update the donor's contact details and draft a thank-you, known as an acknowledgment, for the gift.
See how a campaign landed
Pull donation totals and response rate from the campaign report, and rethink the next message if few responded.
Quick facts
Bachelor’s typical
United States · 2025–2035
$72,550 median
United States · May 2025
5.5% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Bachelor’s typicalA bachelor’s degree is the typical entry education; requirements vary by role.
Pay
$72,550 medianNational annual median, equivalent to $34.88 an hour.
Outlook
5.5% projected growthAbout 10,000 openings a year are projected nationwide.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You can ask someone for support without avoiding a direct question.
- You like getting names, amounts, and follow-up details right.
- You enjoy staying in touch after the first conversation.
Things to weigh
- Evening or weekend events can add hours beyond the office day.
- A thoughtful request can still get a no. You need to respect that answer and keep working.
Where AI may help
Fundraising software can total gifts and track responses. Some tools use artificial intelligence (AI) to draft a proposal from donor information.
What people still lead
You decide whether the request fits the donor and handle questions a prepared message cannot anticipate.
What we can’t predict yet
How much personalized outreach can be automated without weakening donor relationships remains an open question.
Pay in context
Earnings
The national median is a midpoint across fundraisers, not a starting offer.
Read the spread
The median was $72,550 a year, or $34.88 an hour. The 10th and 90th percentile annual wages were $46,630 and $115,820. These mark the wage distribution, not beginner and experienced pay.
Compare employer types
Annual medians were $76,690 in educational services, $66,380 in healthcare and social assistance, and $62,250 in arts, entertainment, and recreation.
Look beyond new jobs
Employment is projected to grow 5.5%, with about 10,000 openings annually. Openings include replacing workers who leave, as well as growth.
Getting started
Pair college with fundraising experience
- What the route involves
- Earn a bachelor’s degree; communications, business, and social science are common fields. Add nonprofit campaign experience through an internship or volunteering.
- What it can lead to
- You meet the typical education level and develop experience employers may prefer.
Start in a development support job
- What the route involves
- Work with development officers to maintain donor records, prepare reports, and help with outreach and events.
- What it can lead to
- You gain experience with the records and coordination behind fundraising before seeking broader donor responsibilities.
- What to check
- Requirements vary. Some university assistant roles accept a high school diploma plus two years of related experience, or an equivalent education-and-experience combination.
Degree preparation is common; support jobs offer another way to build relevant experience.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn the donor database and gift-processing routines. Become dependable at accurate records and timely follow-up.
Handle a campaign
Take responsibility for an appeal or membership renewal campaign, from mailing lists through reviewing responses.
Lead fundraising work
With several years of related experience, you could pursue fundraising management: choosing campaign approaches and guiding other fundraisers.
Where you can work
College and university development offices
You may connect a college’s staff with a central fundraising office. Donor officers, alumni colleagues, and event planners share information, so coordination is a substantial part of the job.
- Office
Museums with membership programs
Some roles combine donation appeals with membership renewals. Your week can move from database work to welcoming members at museum events and explaining programs they help support.
- Office
- Indoors
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Invent a small school project and write a short donation request explaining its purpose and what a gift would fund. Read it to a friend, invite questions, and revise it. Notice whether you enjoy making the ask and listening to the response.
Stay safe: Keep this a practice conversation; do not collect money or represent a real organization.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Fundraisers — 13-1131.00. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fundraisers — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: Fundraisers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- University of Florida. Development Assistant — TEAMS Titles. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Pennsylvania State University. Development Assistant, College of Engineering. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Columbia Museum of Art. Development Coordinator — Position Description. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Salesforce. New Salesforce AI and Data Tools Help Nonprofits Engage with Stakeholders, Boost Fundraising, and Improve Program Efficiency. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Salesforce. Track Outreach Trends With Rollups in Nonprofit. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Public Relations and Fundraising Managers — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-03.