Management
Fundraising manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Median pay
$125,470
Growth to 2035
+5%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
3,700
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Fundraising manager
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Fundraising manager: 65% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- Manage fundraising budgets.
- Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.
- Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
- 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.
- Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.
- Contact corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders to increase awareness of organizational causes, activities, or needs.
Also called: Advancement Director · Annual Giving Director · Development Director · Donor Engagement Director · Foundation Director · Fundraising Manager · Individual Giving Director · Individual Giving Manager
Outlook and AI
Fundraising managers held 48,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 51,400 by 2035 (+5%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Fundraising manager vs. Fundraiser
- Fundraising manager vs. Public relations manager
- Fundraising manager vs. Public relations specialist
- Fundraising manager vs. Advertising and promotions managers
- Fundraising manager vs. Social and community service managers
- Fundraising manager vs. Financial manager
- Fundraising manager vs. Meeting, convention, and event planners
- Fundraising manager vs. Marketing manager
- Fundraising manager vs. Sales manager