Fundraising manager

Fundraising managers are responsible for raising money on behalf of organisations, often non-profit such as charities. Moreover, they manage the fundraised resources developing programs for its use. They perform a variety of tasks to raise money such as developing corporate partnerships, coordinating direct mail campaigns, organizing fundraisers, contacting donators or sponsors, and sourcing grant income from trusts, foundations and other statutory bodies.

The following job titles also refer to fundraising manager:

fundraiser
fundraising coordinator
charity fundraiser
non-profit fundraiser
philanthropic manager
giving manager
planned giving manager
fundraising consultant
individual giving manager
fundraising specialist

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as fundraising manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Fundraising manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to fundraising manager.

investor relations manager
insurance product manager
credit union manager
insurance claims manager
budget manager

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of fundraising manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of fundraising manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of fundraising manager.

Funding methods: The financial possibilities for funding projects such as the traditional ones, namely loans, venture capital, public or private grants up to alternative methods such as crowdfunding.
Financial statements: The set of financial records disclosing the financial position of a company at the end of a set period or of the accounting year. The financial statements consisting of five parts which are the statement of financial position, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity (SOCE), the statement of cash flows and notes.
Social media marketing techniques: The marketing methods and strategies used to increase attention and website traffic through social media channels.
Financial management: The field of finance that concerns the practical process analysis and tools for designating financial resources. It encompasses the structure of businesses, the investment sources, and the value increase of corporations due to managerial decision-making.
Corporate social responsibility: The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.
Financial analysis: The process of assessing the financial possibilities, means, and status of an organisation or individual by analysing financial statements and reports in order to make well informed business or financial decisions.

These skills are necessary for the role of fundraising manager.

Coordinate events: Lead events by managing budget, logistics, event support, security, emergency plans and follow up.
Enforce financial policies: Read, understand, and enforce the abidance of the financial policies of the company in regards with all the fiscal and accounting proceedings of the organisation.
Analyse market financial trends: Monitor and forecast the tendencies of a financial market to move in a particular direction over time.
Strive for company growth: Develop strategies and plans aiming at achieving a sustained company growth, be the company self-owned or somebody else’s. Strive with actions to increase revenues and positive cash flows.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
Perform fundraising activities: Perform activities which will raise funds for an organisation or campaign, such as speaking with the public, gathering funds during fundraising or other general events, and using online fundraising tools.
Create a financial plan: Develop a financial plan according to financial and client regulations, including an investor profile, financial advice, and negotiation and transaction plans.
Develop promotional tools: Generate promotional material and collaborate in the production of promotional text, videos, photos, etc. Keep previous promotional material organised.
Advise on financial matters: Consult, advise, and propose solutions with regards to financial management such as acquiring new assets, incurring in investments, and tax efficiency methods.
Analyse financial performance of a company: Based on accounts, records, financial statements and external information of the market, analyse the performance of the company in financial matters in order to identify improvement actions that could increase profit.
Fix meetings: Fix and schedule professional appointments or meetings for clients or superiors.
Plan health and safety procedures: Set up procedures for maintaining and improving health and safety in the workplace.
Manage fundraising activities: Initiate fundraising activities managing the place, teams involved, causes and budgets.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Follow company standards: Lead and manage according to the organisation’s code of conduct.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fundraising manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Public relations: The practice of managing all aspects of the image and perception of a company or individual among stakeholders and the society at large.
Content marketing strategy: The process of creation and share of media and publishing content in order to acquire customers.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fundraising manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Manage government-funded programmes: Implement and monitor the development of projects subsidized by regional, national or European authorities.
Carry out strategic research: Research long term possibilities for improvements and plan steps to achieve them.
Manage donor database: Create and constantly update the database containing personal details and status of donors.
Manage volunteers: Manage volunteers’ tasks, recruitment, programmes and budgets.
Deliver a sales pitch: Prepare and deliver an understandably constructed sales talk for a product or a service, identifying and using persuasive argumentation.
Use consulting techniques: Advise clients in different personal or professional matters.
Coordinate advertising campaigns: Organise course of action to promote a product or service; oversee the production of TV advertisements, newspaper and magazine ads, suggest mail packs, email campaigns, websites, stands and other advertising channels
Establish contact with potential donors: Approach individuals, local authorities, commercial organisations and other actors in order to obtain sponsorship and donations for the projects of the charity.
Manage the handling of promotional materials: Plan and prepare the production of promotional materials with third parties by contacting printing companies, agreeing on logistics and delivery, and making sure that deadlines are met.
Develop public relations strategies: Plan, coordinate and implement all the efforts required in a public relations strategy such as defining the targets, preparing communications, contacting partners, and spreading information among stakeholders.
Apply for government funding: Gather information on and apply for subsidies, grants, and other financing programmes provided by the government to small- and large-scale projects or organisations in various fields.
Write charity grant proposals: Write project proposals to be developed by the charity organisation in order to obtain funds and grants from national or international organisations or local authorities which provide such funding.
Execute feasibility study: Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the process of decision making.
Manage accounts: Manage the accounts and financial activities of an organisation, supervising that all the documents are correctly maintained, that all the information and calculations are correct, and that proper decisions are being made.
Inform on government funding: Give information to customers related to the grants and financing programmes attributed by the government for small and large scale projects in various fields such as the promotion of renewable energies.
Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.

2432 – Public relations professionals

 

 

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References

1. Fundraising manager – ESCO