Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

The Work

A fundraiser can work for a not-for-profit organisation which has fundraising as one of its core activities. While many fundraisers are volunteers, there are also paid positions in some organisations.

As a fundraiser, your responsibilities may vary depending on your experience and position in the organisation. You may talk to people on the streets about a specific appeal and look for donations, but in a more senior position, you develop corporate partnerships, plan advertising campaigns, and organise events. Researching and applying for grants and funding from various trusts, government agencies and businesses.

In the more senior position, you would also be responsible for recruiting and managing volunteers for different fundraising projects.

There would be a significant level of administrative work, as you report and monitor the financial progress and fundraising activities, income and expenditure.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
• Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
• Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
• Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
• Create or update donor databases.
• Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
• Develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs.
• Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organisations.
• Conduct research to identify the goals, net worth, charitable donation history, or other data related to potential donors, potential investors, or general donor markets.
• Develop fundraising activity plans that maximise participation or contributions and minimise costs.

Further Information

• Fundraiser - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Fundraiser - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

There is not one specific entry route for this role and a specific qualification may not be necessary.

More senior fundraisers or fundraising managers often have a degree in business, event management or marketing. However, work and volunteering experience is often more important.

For many careers in the not-for-profit sector, employers expect some level of voluntary experiences or involvement at community level. Volunteering is also an excellent way to get experience in fundraising and it also allows you to build up contacts in the sector, which can lead to employment opportunities. You can find out more about volunteering through Volunteer Ireland.

Fundraising jobs are often advertised on Charities Institute Ireland and on Activelink for example.

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Customer service, Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Community work, Business Management, Sales, Marketing, Commerce, Finance and Accounting at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Accounting, Finance, Sales Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-8 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Community work, Business, Commerce, Economics, Maths & Statistics, Accounts & Finance NFQ Levels 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Business, Accounts, Management, Financial advice NFQ level 9

There are often opportunities to progress to more senior positions as a fundraiser. You can also work for a larger organisation and you may also have opportunities to work overseas.

Professional Development 

Charities Institute Ireland Keeping up to date with regulations and sector news is important and member organisations such as Charities Institute Ireland often offer relevant information and training.

Last Updated: November, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €38k - €60k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Brightwater/ Charityrecruitment/ Indeed/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows.

There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. While job openings are set to continue, upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills.

Other sales & marketing assoc. professionals National Skills Bulletin 2023

Despite a strong employment growth rate for this occupation, employment levels fell between 2021 and 2022. Employment is spread across a number of roles including marketing associate professionals, buyers & procurement officers, conference/expo managers and estate agents. Employment permits issued in 2022 were primarily for roles in the ICT sector such as digital marketing and accounts managers with language skills required for some.

The Recruitment Agency Survey highlighted issues in sourcing candidates for procurement roles. The number of job adverts for this role grew in 2022, driven by increases for buyers/procurement officers and conference organisers etc. In addition, procurement/tendering documentation skills were not confined to this occupation, but were also in demand outside of sales roles, albeit in small numbers.

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• Charities Institute Ireland

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