Fundraising Managers

Fundraising managers spend their days building and maintaining relationships to secure financial support for organizations. They establish connections with people outside their group, communicate with internal teams, and gather information to design effective funding strategies. This work requires strong skills in speaking, active listening, persuasion, and social perceptiveness to connect with donors. Managers must also use critical thinking and complex problem solving to organize, plan, and prioritize campaign goals.

To succeed in this role, individuals need knowledge in administration, management, sales, marketing, and communications. Understanding customer service, psychology, and basic economics also helps in tailoring messages to potential donors. This career strongly appeals to people with enterprising interests who enjoy leading projects and making decisions. Important work styles for these managers include initiative, leadership, dependability, cooperation, and optimism, which help them persevere through challenging campaigns.

Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Because this is a management-level role, employers expect candidates to have a solid background in professional environments before taking on these responsibilities.

Students interested in this path often choose college majors that build strong communication and organizational skills. Relevant areas of study include business administration, management and operations, marketing, and business or corporate communications. Other helpful majors include communication and media studies, public relations, advertising, and applied communication. These programs help future managers develop the writing, public speaking, and administrative skills necessary to run successful campaigns.

The median annual pay for fundraising managers is $125,470. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and the employing organization, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $75,130 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $222,350.

There are 38,810 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 5.4 percent, which is faster than average. This growth is expected to result in 3,700 job openings each year.