Last Updated: November 2, 2020

Most organizations need outside funding in order to support the further development of goods, services, or products. By identifying donors and generating leads for fundraising opportunities from public and private sources, organizations like non-profits and universities meet established needs and provide for even more individuals.

Leading the charge for donations are fundraising specialists who contact potential donors and coordinate fundraising events for organizations. Read on to discover how these individuals plan out fundraising campaigns.

What do they do?

Location and Opportunity

According to Indeed.com, several locations have the highest need for fundraising specialists. Some of these include:

  • Washington, DC
  • New York, NY
  • Chicago, IL
  • Boston, MA
  • Memphis, TN

Fundraising specialists help organizations identify areas most in need of fundraising support. They discover how much money needs to be raised, and which avenues they can raise that money through.

Fundraising specialists develop strategies for making the case that an organization needs funding. One of the principle questions they answer is “why should I donate?” Meeting with other fundraising coordinators, they embark on large campaigns where they contact many people and businesses to increase donation rates.

An organization often brings a fundraising specialist into the discussion when they know that specialist has built up contacts with donors. These individuals have the ability to call upon these donors at a moment’s notice, having established positive relationships in the past. Some professionals that fundraising specialists work with typically include:

Qualifications

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  1. Grand Canyon University (GCU)

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Fundraising specialists have established a reputation for success at various organizations. These professionals are extremely self-motivated and organized, able to coordinate contact with multiple donors at once.

Most fundraising specialists have obtained at least bachelor’s degrees in marketing, business, or communication, but previous experience is the highest indicator of effective fundraising skill.

Becoming a Fundraising Specialist

Some organizations pay fundraising specialists depending on how much money they bring in through a successful campaign. The average salary for a fundraising specialists is between $40,000 and $60,000.

If you’re interested in learning more about how fundraising specialists allow the continuing functionality of non-profit organizations, contact schools offering degrees in marketing.