While beginning fund-raisers do not earn much, their salaries will increase as they gain experience or lead successful revenue efforts. The Association of Fundraising Professionals' 2024 Compensation and Benefits Report reported an average salary of $96,621 in 2023. This reflected an increase of just 0.8 percent from the previous year, when salaries increased 6.7 percent.
According to PayScale.com, in 2024, fund-raisers earned average base salaries of $59,086. Earnings ranged from less than $40,000 to $100,000 or more. To attract and retain experienced fund-raisers, private agencies and nonprofit organizations will also offer competitive salaries and good benefits. While some nonprofit organizations may offer performance bonuses, they are not usually tied directly to the amounts raised.
Benefits for fund-raisers often are equivalent to other professional business positions, including paid vacation days, group insurance plans, and paid sick days.
- Active and Contemplative Religious Sisters and Brothers
- Art Directors
- Campaign Workers
- Caterers
- Copywriters
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Cruise Ship Workers
- Demographers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Fund-Raising
- Directors of Volunteers
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Event Planners
- Exhibit Designers
- Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Hedge Fund Investor Relations Specialists
- Historic Preservationists
- Inbound Tour Guides
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Librarians
- Lobbyists
- Market Research Analysts
- Marketing Consultants
- Media Planners and Buyers
- Media Relations Specialists
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Museum Technicians
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- National Park Service Employees
- Nonprofit Social Service Directors
- Online Reputation Managers
- Park Rangers
- Political Consultants
- Press Secretaries
- Proposal Managers
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Public Opinion Researchers
- Public Relations Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Publicists
- Publicity Photographers
- Rabbis
- Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- Roman Catholic Priests
- Social Media Influencers
- Social Media Workers
- Social Workers
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Publicists
- Tour Guides
- Webmasters
- Wedding and Party Consultants
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors