Fundraiser
Also advertised as: Community Fundraiser, Corporate Partnerships Officer, Development Officer, Fundraiser, Fundraising Officer, Individual Giving Officer
Raises the money a charity needs through donors, events, grants or corporate partners.
What the job involves
Fundraisers secure income. Depending on the specialism you write grant bids to trusts, build relationships with major donors and companies, run community events or manage regular giving campaigns. Targets are real, but the cause makes them worth hitting.
Typical responsibilities
- Research and apply to grant funders
- Build relationships with donors and companies
- Plan and run fundraising events
- Report on income against targets
- Steward supporters and say thank you properly
Common employers
- National charities
- Hospices
- Local community organisations
- Universities
- Faith organisations
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £27,000 a year
With experience
£32,000 – £45,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours with some evening and weekend events
Working environment
Office, community venues and donor meetings
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Persuasive writing
- Relationship building
- Event planning
- Budgeting
- Reporting
Transferable skills you may already have
- Sales and customer service
- Community organising
- Writing applications
Requirements employers ask for
- Persuasive writing
- Relationship building
- Event planning
- Budgeting
- Reporting
- No formal qualification required
Useful but not essential
- Sales and customer service
- Community organising
- Writing applications
- Chartered Institute of Fundraising certificate
Helpful qualifications
- Chartered Institute of Fundraising certificate
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Fundraiser (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Marketing
- Related subject: Business
- Related subject: Social policy
- Related subject: English
Where this career can lead
next
Fundraising Manager
next
Head of Fundraising
next
Director of Development
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Purpose-driven work
- Skills transfer from sales and events
- Clear specialism choices
What people find hard
- Income targets under funding pressure
- Short-term contracts are common
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a fundraiser?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a fundraiser earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £27,000 a year, rising towards £45,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Sales and customer service, Community organising, Writing applications.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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