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Fundraisers are the persons who organize events/campaigns for raising funds for social causes. The social causes can be education, feeding and sponsoring the needy, providing shelter, etc.
A fundraiser works mostly for NGOs but can also work for the CSR department of various companies. A Fundraiser chooses from a varied specialty and specializes in one of Blogging, Fundraising, Community Manager, Public Relations, etc.
BA Journalism, BA Public Relations, and in some cases BBA, MBA are some top courses students pursue to become fundraisers.
Various NGOs such as Aasmaan Foundation, Monthlies, Top Trove Foundations, Ripples of Change Foundation, Platform Commons Foundation, World Wide Fund, The Leprosy Mission Trust, Breakthrough Trust, etc. hire fundraisers offering an average package of INR 2,00,000 – INR 3,00,000.
Table of Contents
- How to Become a Fundraiser: Quick Facts
- What Does a Fundraiser Do
- Steps to Become a Fundraiser
- Types of Fundraisers
4.1 Fundraisers
4.2 Blogger
4.3 Event Organizer
5.1 How to become a Fundraiser After 12th
6.1 Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations
6.2 Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
6.3 Bachelor of Business Administration
6.4 Master of Business Administration
7.1 Australia
7.2 UK
7.3 USA
7.4 Canada
- Benefits of Career as Fundraisers
- Skills required to be a Fundraisers
- Salary of Fundraisers in India
10.2 Specialisation Wise Salary
10.3 Gender Wise Salary
How to Become a Fundraiser: Quickfacts
| Industry | Social |
| Eligibility | Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations: 50% in 10+2. Bachelor of Arts in Journalism: 50% in 10+2. Bachelor of Business Administration: 50% in 10+2. Master of Business Administration: 50% in Graduation. |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2,40,000 to INR 4,00,000 per annum |
| Job Opportunity | Fundraiser, Blogger, Event Organizer, Community Manager |
What Does a Fundraiser Do?
Some fundraisers have to travel to long distances where the fundraising events are being held. They also attend events, expos, fairs to raise awareness about the persons in need and to raise funds. Fundraisers also use social media to have greater reach. They work with bloggers to publish useful content. They also work with event organizers to organize fundraising events.
Following are the duties and responsibilities of Fundraisers
- Researching actively prospective donors.
- Creating an engaging and inspiring message that can appeal to donors to donate.
- Contacting potential donors.
- Using various platforms to raise funds.
- Research about people/organizations who are seeking donations.
- Organizing events and campaigns to raise funds.
- Maintaining records of the donor.
- Train new volunteers for campaigning.
- Ensuring all legal processes are followed.
Steps to Become a Fundraiser
Following are some simple yet important steps to become a Fundraiser.
- Step 1 – Make a Decision: Weigh down all the pros and cons of pursuing a career in Fundraising. Predict and project all the possibilities that lie in the field of Fundraising. On the basis of all the details that you had gathered make a list of all the courses and colleges that offer the course of Fundraiser. Look out for all the possibilities even abroad for better understanding and better choices. Compare all the parameters of pursuing the course in India as well as abroad. Consulting someone who has been in this field can help you to easily understand the course.
- Step 2 – Choosing the right set of Subjects: There is no well-defined structure in 10+2 to choose a particular subject to become a Fundraiser. But one needs to have basic knowledge of Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics as these subjects are the building blocks for any course and entrance exam. Take a good amount of knowledge from graduation and learn the concepts of Fundraising.
- Step 3 – Preparation for Entrance Examination: Having an in-depth knowledge of what are the exams for entry to some of the best colleges for Fundraising can help ease the pain in most of many ways. Be updated with the syllabus and keep track of any changes in the syllabus. Be updated with the list of entrance exams and always have a look at the notification of the particular exam. Prepare using Model Test Papers, Previous Year Papers, and mocks. Make a formula sheet or notebook to revise it out daily as this can also be useful while revision.
- Step 4 – Getting admission to a good college: Finding the best-fit college is a tedious task. Look out for the colleges according to your needs and expectations. Find out the best colleges for the program and have a detailed knowledge of the college like the Fees, Alumni, Placements, Faculty, Facilities, Infrastructure, etc. Talk to Alumni of the respective college to get some detailed information about the college. Do deep analysis and research of the college before opting for any college.
- Step 5 – After Qualifying Exam: After qualifying for the entrance exam, candidates can be called for further rounds of admission which might include Group Discussions and Personal Interviews. some colleges might even choose to take an aptitude test. Some colleges offer admission on the basis of marks scored in the qualifying exams (entrance exams) while some colleges offer admission based on merit and other academic undertakings. Some PG Colleges even undertake your previous Work Experience, Academics, Social work, Certifications, Accolades, etc. to offer admission.
Types of Fundraisers
Different types of fundraisers according to the job role and workplace are discussed below:
- Fundraisers: Fundraisers are the persons who organize events/campaigns for raising funds for social causes. The social causes can be education, feeding the hungry, sponsoring someone, providing shelter, etc. Most of the fundraisers work for organizations. Fundraisers even work for consulting firms as they have a strong network of people. Fundraisers meet people in person or can also connect with them via mail. Some fundraisers have to travel to long distances where the fundraising events are being held. They also attend events, expos, fairs to raise awareness about the persons in need and to raise funds. Fundraisers also use social media to have greater reach.
- Blogger: Many fundraisers connect with bloggers to have a greater impact and reach. Bloggers write engaging content and publish them on their websites. They also provide their blogs on social media websites such as Facebook. Bloggers help fundraisers to raise more money via their blogs. Some fundraising companies even hire bloggers to work as a fundraiser as they have the skills that are needed by fundraisers.
- Event Organizer: Event organizers organize events such as parties, meetings, weddings, social events, etc. He/she is responsible for planning, managing, and organizing events cost-effectively. Some fundraisers collaborate with event organizers to organize such events wherein some funds can be raised for any social cause. Some fundraising companies hire event organizers because of their skill set.
- Communication Manager: Communication Managers are in charge of regulating the internal and external operations of the company. Communication Manager prepares detailed media reports, marketing materials, and press releases. Communication Managers work closely with top executives of the company to build a strong image of the company. They are entrusted with making reports, proposals, newsletters, etc. to publish it on social media, press, etc.
How to Become a Fundraiser in India
Choosing to pursue a career in Fundraising is one of the exciting career paths. The course description of becoming a Fundraiser from School Level, UG, and PG Preparation is discussed below.
School Level Preparation
A career in fundraising doesn’t require a requisite set of subjects. Students can choose any set of subjects according to their choice of study. Students can choose Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics in their 10th as these are essential subjects and these subjects act as a foundation for any upcoming entrance exams. Having a keen interest in social activities right from the 10th can help a student to find a pathway to make a career in fundraising.
How to Become a Fundraiser After the 12th?
After 12th, the various steps to become a fundraiser are mentioned below:
UG Preparation
- After a Candidate has cleared 10+2, He/she will have to appear for various entrance exams that are taken for admissions in any Graduation course.
- After clearing the written entrance exam, he/she can be called for Group Discussion/Personal Interview/ Merit Rounds.
- After clearing all stages, the next step is document verification. Candidates are called for verifying the documents.
- If a candidate clears all the stages and his/her document is found to be in perfect order he/she is offered admission.
PG Preparation
- After a Candidate has cleared Graduation, He/she will have to appear for entrance examinations that are taken for admissions to Postgraduate programs.
- After one has cleared the written entrance exam, he/she will be called for Group Discussion/Personal Interview/ Merit Rounds.
- After clearing all stages, the next step is document verification. Candidates are called for verifying the documents.
- If a candidate clears all the stages and his/her document is found to be in perfect order he/she is offered admission.
Courses to Become a Fundraiser
BA Journalism and BA Public Relations are the popular courses to become a Fundraiser in India.
Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations
Bain Public relation is a 3-year undergraduate with 6 semesters. Students are taught to evaluate and monitor public attitudes, maintaining mutual relations with the organizations, and successfully contributing to maintaining an everlasting image of an organization. Students learn topics from the subjects of Counselling, Corporate Public Relations, and Communications, Development/Fundraising, Financial Relations, Media Relations, etc.
Admission Process
Admission in BA in Public Relations is done based on scores obtained in 10+2. Some colleges or universities might conduct entrance exams on their own.
Eligibility Criteria for Exam
- Candidates should have completed their 10+2 from any streams from a recognized board.
- Candidates should have secured at least 50% marks in 10+2.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
BA Journalism is a 3-year course. Some colleges even offer integrated (BA+MA) that of 5 years of duration. The course imparts a holistic knowledge of news and media. Some of the subjects taught during the duration of 3 years are Development of Journalism, Fundamentals of Computer, Governance and Politics, Introduction to Electronic Media, etc.
Admission Process
The admission process of BA Journalism is much similar to BA Public relations. Candidates may get admitted on the basis of the score he/she has obtained in 10+2 or may have to go through an entrance that might be conducted by the university.
Eligibility Criteria for Exam
- Candidates should have passed 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 50% in 10+2.
- Candidates can belong from any streams (Science/Commerce/Arts)
Bachelor of Business Administration
BBA is a 3-year undergraduate course that imparts skills of managing a business and administering the business. BBA teaches students subjects like Managerial Economics, General Management, Principles of Management, Macroeconomics, Human Behavior & Ethics at Workplace, Direct Tax & Indirect Tax, Human Resource Management.
Admission Process
There is no national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to the BBA course. However, some colleges choose to conduct entrance exams on their own to offer admission to some of the brightest minds.
Eligibility Criteria for Exam
- Desirous Candidates should have passed 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 50% in 10+2.
- Candidates can belong from any stream (Science/Commerce/Arts).
Master of Business Administration
MBA is a 2-year Postgraduate course that imparts skills of managing a business, administering the business, doing market research for growth of the company, analysis of the current market scenario. MBA teaches students subjects like Direct Tax & Indirect Tax, Managerial Economics, Principles of Management, General Management, Macroeconomics, Human Resource Management, Human Behaviour & Ethics at Workplace,
Admission Process
Many colleges offer admission to their MBA course via CAT/XAT. However, many colleges conduct their own entrance exams such as SNAP, IIFT, MICAT, etc. CAT and XAT are one of the toughest management entrance exams in India. After clearing the entrance exam students are called for Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Based on the performance in GDPI and entrance exam a student is offered admission.
Eligibility Criteria for Exam
- Desirous Candidates should have passed Graduation from a recognized University with at least 50% in Graduation.
- Candidates can belong from any stream.
How to Become Fundraiser Abroad
Apart from India, many other countries offer courses that can help an individual become a fundraiser at a later stage. Australia, US, UK, and Canada are some of the most opted countries to pursue higher education. To become a Fundraiser, one has to do Graduation/ Post-Graduation in Public Relations, Communication Management, Business, or any field. Courses provided in these countries along with their colleges are discussed below please have a look.
Australia
Australia offers a wide variety of courses that includes engineering, Management, Journalism, Public Relations, Arts, etc. There are over 100 colleges that offer these courses for students. English is the preferred language for these colleges in Australia. Some of the top colleges are given in the below table. There has also been an increase in the number of Indian students moving to Australia for studies. The numbers have risen from 15,800 in 2015-16 to 35,400 in 2019, an approximate increase of 123% in these 4 years.
| College | Fees |
|---|---|
| The University of Sydney | INR 22,00,000 |
| The University of New South Wales | INR 20,60,000 |
| The University of Queensland | INR 57,20,000 |
| Trinity College | INR 19,50,000 |
| Monash College | INR 16,00,000 |
| The University of Melbourne | INR 41,00,000 |
| The University of Canberra | INR 47,00,000 |
| University of Technology | INR 21,00,000 |
| Deakin University | INR 36,34,000 |
| Queensland University of Technology | INR 52,00,000 |
UK
A wide variety of courses are offered in the UK. The UK has been the second most chosen country after the USA by Indian Students. Many universities offer courses that may pave the way for a career in Fundraising. These colleges prefer English as a mode of communication and teaching. As many as 37,500 Indian students moved to the UK in 2019 as compared to 20,000 in 2018. The average salary of a Fundraiser in the UK is £36,340(INR 32,10,000).
| College | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Swansea University | 3,82,000 |
| Loughborough University | 21,00,000 |
| University of Bath | 20,00,000 |
| Oxford Brookes University | 47,00,000 |
| University of Sheffield | 21,73,000 |
| Cardiff University | 18,00,000 |
| Sheffield Hallam University | 30,00,000 |
| University of Leeds | 26,00,000 |
| University of Warwick | 21,34,000 |
| University of Birmingham | 24,30,000 |
USA
Approximately over 50+ colleges in the US offer 100+ courses in the US. Though there has been a slight decline in the number of students opting to study in the US. The numbers have fallen from 2,02,014 in 2018-19 to 1,93,124 in 2019-20 but these numbers are expected to pick up its trend citing some relief in US Student Visa policy that became a hurdle for most of the students during the Trump Administration. A Fundraiser earns $51,557 (Approx. INR 39,00,000) yearly in the United States.
| College | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley | 12,00,000 |
| Lawrence Technological University | 35,00,000 |
| University of Texas | 10,00,000 |
| University of Washington | 1,16,34,000 |
| DePaul University | 27,00,000 |
| University of Utah | 89,16,000 |
| University of Maryland | 1,13,75,000 |
| Boston University | 64,52,000 |
| University of Colorado | 31,27,000 |
| University of Central Florida | 31,20,000 |
Canada
There are approximately 100+ colleges that offer students to pursue a career that can further pave the way into making a career in Fundraising. English is the preferred language for these colleges in Canada. Some of the top colleges are given in the table below. According to Project Atlas 2017-2018 report, Canada saw a growth of 18.8% in hosting courses and colleges for foreign students.
| College | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Conestoga College | 14,50,000 |
| Trent University | 52,68,000 |
| Carleton University | 69,68,000 |
| Fanshawe College | 8,25,000 |
| Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning | 10,00,000 |
| Fleming College | 10,00,000 |
| Fraser International College | 16,17,000 |
| New Brunswick Community College | 5,60,680 |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University | 12,00,000 |
| Northern Lights College | 1,50,000 |
Benefits of Career as Fundraiser
- Salary- Fundraisers earn a monthly salary of INR 25,000 to INR 30,000 on average at the start of their careers. With the experience they gain, they can make INR 60,000 to INR 1,00,000 per month.
- Opportunity to be Creative- Fundraising brings creativity in a person. He/she is engaged in creating creative and innovative campaigns to raise funds.
- Higher Studies- After gaining knowledge in the field of Fundraising a candidate can choose to pursue higher education. Candidates can opt for Post-Graduation. They can pursue higher studies in their own field of study or can opt for another field. Students can go for MBA or M.S. from foreign universities.
- Networking- Fundraising helps you meet many people that can help you expand and have a great network. This networking can help you professionally and non-professionally.
- Sense of Community- being a fundraiser can give you a sense of pride and can make you feel that you are actually doing something good for the benefit of society.
Skills That a Fundraiser Should Have
Following are some of the skills a Fundraiser is entrusted to have in him/her.
- Researching actively prospective donors.
- Contacting potential donors.
- Creating an engaging and inspiring message that can appeal to donors to donate.
- Using various platforms to raise funds.
- Organizing events and campaigns to raise funds.
- Research about people/organizations who are seeking donations.
- Maintaining records of the donor.
- Ensuring all legal processes are followed.
- Train new volunteers for campaigning.
Salary of Fundraiser
The salary of a Fundraiser can be competitive in the initial stages as the salary mainly depends on the performance of the candidate and his expertise in coordinating and communicating. The better he/she is in his/her work the better wage he/she can expect. The average salary of a Fresher as a Fundraiser can range from INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 per annum.
Average Annual Salary
| Name of Organisation | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Government | Not Available |
| Private | INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000. |
Specialization Wise Salary (Fresher)
| Specializations | Salary |
|---|---|
| Fundraiser | INR 2,20,000 |
| Blogger | INR 2,50,000 |
| Event Organizer | INR 3,00,000 |
| Communication Manager | INR 3,50,000 |
Gender Wise Salary
| Gender | Salary |
|---|---|
| Male | INR 2,40,000 |
| Female | INR 2,20,000 |
Experience Wise
| Experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Fresher | INR 2,50,000 |
| Experienced | INR 4,00,000 |
How to Become a Fundraiser: FAQs
Ques. What are the skills a Fundraiser has?
Ans. Fundraisers have good communication skills, organizational skills, Interpersonal skills, Researching, and are detail-oriented. These are some of the skills a fundraiser possesses.
Ques. What are the duties and responsibilities of a Fundraiser?
Ans. Following are the duties and responsibilities of Fundraisers
- Researching actively prospective donors.
- Creating an engaging and inspiring message that can appeal to donors to donate.
- Contacting potential donors.
- Using various platforms to raise funds.
- Research about people/organizations who are seeking donations.
- Organizing events and campaigns to raise funds.
- Maintaining records of the donor.
- Train new volunteers for campaigning.
- Ensuring all legal processes are followed.
Ques. What are the career prospects of a Fundraiser?
Ans. After one has chosen to be a fundraiser, he/she can choose to work with social groups such as NGOs and CSRs. He/she can also start working as a freelancer or can start his/her own organization to raise funds for the social cause.
Ques. Which books would you recommend for fundraising?
Ans. Fundraisers can prefer the following books. These books can help you get more knowledge about fundraising. These books can be found on Amazon also.
- Making Money with Donor Newsletters by Tom Ahern
- Relationship Fundraising by Ken Burnett
- Asking Styles by Andrea Kihlstedt
- Fundraising Guide to Irresistible Communications by Jeff Brooks
- Fired-Up Fundraising by Gail Perry
- Keep Your Donors by Tom Ahern and Simone P. Joyaux
- Building Donor Loyalty by Adrian Sargeant and Elaine Jay
- Retention Fundraising by Roger Craver
- How to Write Fundraising Materials That Raise More Money by Tom Ahern
- Fundraising Principles and Practice by Adrian Sargeant, Jen Shang
Ques. What is the duration of the various courses for Fundraising?
Ans. There is no well-defined set of education required to be a fundraiser. Persons from any background can choose to become a fundraiser but candidates from a background in Public Relations, Journalism, Communication, and Business are preferred.
Ques. How should one prepare for the role of Fundraiser for Interviews?
Ans. Keep track of the company’s performance in past years as well as in months. Keep noticing the changes made by the company and know the leaders behind the making of that company. Be resourceful of the company’s background.
Ques. Can I do any other bachelor's degree along with the bachelor's degree in Public Relation?
Ans. Yes, there is an option of pursuing two courses at the same time but only one of the courses can be regular and the course has to be either online or distance education.
Ques. Can I expect any scholarship from the college during my course?
Ans. Many colleges do offer Scholarships to students. Some colleges offer scholarships to meritorious students, some offer them to lower-income students. Every college has its defined criteria for rolling out scholarships. Apart from scholarships from colleges, Students can also avail the benefit of scholarships from the Central Government or State Government.
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