OVERVIEW
What is a Fundraising Coordinator?
A fundraising coordinator, also known as a fundraising partner, helps raise money and other donations for nonprofit organizations. In addition to planning and executing charity events, they use their excellent people skills to forge relationships with donors and to solicit volunteers.
Often, fundraising coordinators work closely with communications or PR teams in their organization to develop fundraising strategies. These strategies might include direct mail campaigns, charity auctions, social media outreach, and more.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Fundraising Coordinator Do?
The primary role of a fundraising coordinator is to create strategies and implement initiatives that raise money for an organization, as well as to build and maintain donor relations.
A day in the life of a fundraising coordinator might include:
- Organizing events to raise money for a cause or organization.
- Researching and identifying potential donors.
- Maintaining donor records to ensure they’re accurate and up-to-date.
- Utilizing online fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe, DonorBox, OneCause, Bonfire, Fundly, etc. to raise donations.
- Developing marketing strategies for events to ensure that each event is successful and meets its fundraising goals.
- Coordinating and training event volunteers.
- Communicating with other departments within an organization to ensure that fundraising goals are met.
- Tracking contributions to ensure payment of pledges.
- Preparing reports on donor activity for executive staff members within the organization.
- Ensuring all legal reporting requirements are met.
Where Do Fundraising Coordinators Work?
Fundraising coordinators work for nonprofit organizations that employ them directly, although some work for consulting firms.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Fundraising Coordinator?
There are several different ways you can enter the fundraising world. Often, volunteers for charitable groups or people with a background in public relations or marketing find their way into professional fundraising. Here’s the path someone might take to become a fundraising professional:
- Education: For many fundraising coordinator positions, a bachelor’s degree is required. Earning a degree in business, psychology or marketing can give you communication, public relations, and management skills that can be directly applied to a career in fundraising coordination. If you want to take your career even further, then earning an MBA is a great option. You’ll deepen your knowledge and skills in communication, management, decision-making, and more—all of which can prepare you for advanced roles in fundraising.
- Experience: Many fundraising coordinator jobs require industry experience, whether that’s through an internship, volunteer work, or event coordination.
- Certification: Certifications aren’t required to become a fundraising coordinator, but they can certainly help boost your résumé. The most common is the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification. Earning this certification shows employers your extensive knowledge in the field of fundraising. You must have at least five years of experience as a member of a fundraising staff to be eligible to sit for this certification exam.
Best Degrees for a Fundraising Coordinator
Business
Marketing – B.S.
For those who want to lead brands and steer consumer markets:...
For those who want to lead brands and steer consumer markets:
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 19 months.
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Communication
- Marketing
- Sales
- Management
- Project Management
- Product Management
Marketing is a creative and exciting field—and one where an undergraduate degree will open better opportunities.
Business
Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:...
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé this program will teach you include:
- Business communication
- Product development
- Decision making models
- Project management strategies
- Budgeting for business
This online degree program is an excellent choice for kick-starting your organizational management career.
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Health & Nursing
Psychology – B.S.
An online psychology program for students who want to make a difference in...
An online psychology program for students who want to make a difference in their life, and the lives of others.
- Time: 95% of students finish similar programs in less than 4 years.
- Tuition: $4,085 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Social psychology
- Consumer psychology
- Adult psychology
- Mental health awareness
- Psychopathology
This degree allows you to gain valuable knowledge and experience in the field of psychology and can prepare you for additional certifications or careers.
How Much Does a Business Manager Make?
$65,363
The exact income of a business manager varies based on a wide range of factors, including employer, employer location, years of experience, years of education, and existing skill set.
On average, the salary of a business manager is $63,072. The top 10% of business managers will earn as much as $116,000 in a year, while the lowest 10% of earners will make an estimated $42,000 during that same timespan.
What Is the Job Outlook for a Fundraising Coordinator?
16%
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of fundraising professionals is projected to grow by 16% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 12,000 new job openings for fundraisers are expected each year, on average, over the decade.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Fundraising Coordinator Need?
A fundraising coordinator relies on a variety of skills each day. From planning fundraising events to communicating with donors, you need a well-developed skill set to succeed in this role.
- Problem-solving skills: If issues arise during your fundraising efforts, you’ll need to come up with strategic and timely solutions.
- Communication skills: Fundraising coordinators need strong communication and persuasion skills to explain the message and goals of their organization so that people make donations.
- Social media savvy: Many of today's nonprofit organizations are focusing on their online presence and are increasingly using social media for fundraising. You should be comfortable using various social media platforms to connect with potential donors and to spread your organization’s message.
- Networking skills: As a fundraising coordinator, you’ll frequently network with prospective donors, volunteers, and other organizations in order to find sources of funding for your organization.
- Multitasking skills: You should be comfortable juggling several projects at once, often under tight deadlines.
- People skills: Developing and sustaining meaningful relationships with donors and funders is a big part of the job. Personability is crucial.
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