Step 1
Choose a fundraising path
Use this step to make your search more focused, credible and easier to manage.
Practical nonprofit career guidance
How to Build a Career in Fundraising
Fundraising careers can progress through annual giving, institutional giving, major gifts, campaigns, donor relations, operations and development leadership.
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A practical approach
Develop relationship, strategy and stewardship skills
Step 2
Learn ethical practice
Use this step to make your search more focused, credible and easier to manage.
Step 3
Build portfolio experience
Use this step to make your search more focused, credible and easier to manage.
Step 4
Expand strategic responsibility
Use this step to make your search more focused, credible and easier to manage.
What to remember
Make decisions using relevant evidence
Mission alignment matters, but nonprofit employers also need professionals who can perform the work, communicate clearly and follow through responsibly.
- Understand donor stewardship and privacy
- Learn to communicate impact accurately
- Track outcomes without reducing relationships to transactions
- Build comfort with goals, systems and collaboration
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Read the complete posting and compare responsibilities, compensation, workplace expectations and measures of success.
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Clear responsibilities, compensation, location information and selection steps help qualified candidates make informed decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the most important first step?
Start by understanding the role, organization and decision you are trying to make. Then gather the specific information or examples needed to act thoughtfully.
How should this guidance be adapted?
Use the principles as a framework, then adjust them for your experience level, target role, location and the employer’s stated expectations.
Fundraising careers develop across channels
Choose the part of development work that matches your strengths
Fundraising careers can grow through annual giving, major gifts, institutional giving, planned giving, donor relations, events, corporate partnerships, prospect research, advancement services and campaign management. Early-career professionals often benefit from understanding several channels before specializing.
Relationship-oriented roles require strong listening and follow-through, while grants and research roles may emphasize writing, analysis and project management. Advancement services and operations roles can offer a path for people who enjoy systems, data and process. Over time, leadership positions increasingly require the ability to coordinate multiple revenue strategies and work with executives and boards.
Develop a fundraising career across skills and specialties
Fundraising includes annual giving, donor services, events, grants, prospect research, institutional giving, major gifts and development operations. Early-career professionals benefit from understanding how stewardship, data, communication and relationship management connect. As responsibility grows, leadership roles increasingly require strategy, judgment, team leadership and collaboration with program and finance teams.
Build skills that travel
Writing, listening, project management, CRM discipline, data literacy, stewardship and relationship management are useful across development functions. Explore our grant writing guide, career paths and salary guides. The Association of Fundraising Professionals also provides career-development resources for fundraising professionals.
Prepare for leadership through ownership
Seek opportunities to own campaigns, improve processes, mentor colleagues, present results and collaborate across functions. Concrete evidence of responsibility can demonstrate readiness for manager and director roles.
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Frequently asked questions about fundraising careers
How do I start a career in nonprofit fundraising?
Entry points include development assistant, coordinator, donor services, annual giving, events, grants and development operations roles.
What skills are most useful in fundraising?
Communication, listening, writing, stewardship, project management, CRM and data discipline, research and relationship management are useful across many specialties.
Do I need to be an extrovert to work in fundraising?
No. Fundraising also includes research, writing, operations, analytics, grants and strategy, and different specialties reward different strengths.
What is the difference between annual giving and major gifts?
Annual giving often focuses on broad-based recurring donor programs, while major gifts typically involves deeper cultivation and stewardship of a smaller donor portfolio.
Can grant writing lead to other fundraising roles?
Yes. Grant work can build skills in institutional giving, research, program communication, budgeting and funder relationships.
How can I move into fundraising management?
Build evidence of ownership by leading projects, managing portfolios or systems, mentoring colleagues and reporting results.
Should I pursue a fundraising credential?
Credentials can support development, but employers also evaluate accomplishments, judgment, relationship skills and experience. Consider fit with your career stage and goals.