How To Become a Fundraiser

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Fundraisers or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Fundraisers what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Fundraisers typically need a bachelor’s degree and strong communication and organizational skills. Employers generally prefer candidates who have studied public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business.

How hard is it

You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Fundraiser. For example, an accountant must complete 4 years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Careers in this difficulty category will usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. These careers usually involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Similar careers include sales managers, database administrators, chemists, and art directors.

License and certifications

CFRE International offers the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation for fundraisers. Certification is voluntary, but fundraisers may obtain it to demonstrate a level of professional competency. Candidates are required to have 5 years of work experience in fundraising, as well as 80 hours of continuing education through both attendance at conferences and classroom instruction. To keep their certification valid, fundraisers must apply for renewal every 3 years.

Skills required

We asked other Fundraisers if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Fundraisers are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

Explore other careers