How to Become a Fundraiser
Raise the money that keeps nonprofits, universities, and campaigns running, from events to major gifts. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $72,550 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$72,550/yr
Middle half
$57,480 to $92,180
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
10,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Donor Relations
- Grant Writing
- Event Planning
- Storytelling
- Persuasion
Helpful certifications
- CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
33/100
Work-life balance
52/100
Stress level
48/100
Related careers
- Entrepreneur / Business Founder$213,990 median
- Human Resources Manager$149,280 median
- Sales Manager$148,270 median
- Purchasing Manager$148,080 median
- Fundraising Manager$125,470 median
- Administrative Services Manager$114,130 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Fundraiser make?
The median pay for a Fundraiser is $72,550 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $57,480 and $92,180 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Fundraiser?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Communications, Public Administration, Marketing, Business Administration, and Arts Management.
Is Fundraiser a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 10,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Fundraiser use most?
Common skills for this role are Donor Relations, Grant Writing, Event Planning, Storytelling, and Persuasion.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).