Charity fundraiser

You would organise events and persuade people to donate to raise as much money as you can to pay for your charity’s work.

You’d come up with exciting new ways for people and companies to make donations which make them feel that giving their money or time will make a difference.

If you work for a large charity you may focus on one a specific area of fundraising.

You might organise fundraising events such as:

• Charity balls

• Concerts

• Sports events

• Fashion shows

• Charity auctions

• Fun runs

If you work in direct marketing you’d use street collections, door-to-door, online, telemarketing and direct mail approaches to persuade individuals to give a one-off sum or set up a regular donation.

As a corporate fundraiser you’d arrange company sponsorship or set up schemes for staff and customers to donate.

Major donor fundraising means you’d identify wealthy individuals who have an interest in your charity’s work. You contact them and persuade them donate a large sum of money or take up an on-going role with the charity.

Legacy fund-raising is when you’d help people to leave an amount of money to your charity in their will.

In smaller organisations you might do all of these different types of fundraising. Depending on where you work, you would:

• Research and plan new fundraising strategies

• Contact people or companies who may be interested in donating

• Organise events

• Manage door-to-door and street collections

• Recruit, train and inspire volunteers

• Oversee the selling of goods to raise money, for example through charity shops, online or mail order

• Keep records of activities and the money raised

• Control budgets

You’d have targets for the amount of money that needs to be raised, and you’d report to managers, trustees and donors on your performance.

You might also give talks about your charity to the public and write reports and press releases to get publicity.

• Institute of Fundraising - professional membership body for UK fundraising

• National Council of Voluntary Organisations - help and guidance

• Directory of Social Change - Advice, resources, training and research to support charities and the people who work for them

• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations - membership organisation for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises