Fundraising Officer

The position of Fundraising Officer is important to any voluntary or community sector organisation, yet the role involves a range of responsibilities which can often vary depending on the size of organisation you work for.

The Job

The role of Fundraising Officer is primarily focused on the generation of income to continue the life of an organisation or project. The job requires a firm understanding of the financial issues that can affect the development of a project.

There are a number of approaches that can be used to raise funds and it is common for a selection of them to be combined in the search for funding. It is the responsibility of the Fundraising Officer to follow the most appropriate process for their organisation, and to fully explore the potential of a variety of fundraising options.

Working as a Fundraising Officer in a small to medium sized voluntary or community sector organisation can often mean that the role is carried out in conjunction with other responsibilities and project activities. However, the work is primarily concerned with searching for information on the money available from various grant making trusts and foundations, and making applications to those who support the aims of the project or organisation. The role also involves exploring alternative ways for the project to make money in order to become more self-sufficient and sustainable, and continually thinking of new ideas for income generation activities.

Fundraising Officers who work for the larger, well known charities have a slightly different focus to their fundraising activity, and tend to be more involved in specific marketing for the organisation. This can involve anything from organising special events for donors and arranging business sponsorships, to co-ordinating direct marketing campaigns and giving presentations to raise awareness.

Skills Needed

There are a number of skills and abilities needed to successfully carry out the role of Fundraising Officer, regardless of the kind of organisation worked for. These include;

• A well organised approach
• Being creative and imaginative
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of various sources of funding and experience of making applications
• Ability to manage accounts and budgets and to meet financial targets
• Excellent marketing and presentation skills
• Good persuasion and negotiating skills, with the ability to motivate others
• A commitment to the work you are fundraising for

Useful Training

Formal qualifications are not essential for a role as Fundraising Officer as many of the skills required are learnt through experience. Many people who work in this position are however educated to degree level, with a background in business related subjects or sales and marketing being the most useful to have.

Commitment to working in a not-for-profit environment and experience of working within the voluntary and community sector is extremely important for a role as Fundraising Officer. Previous experience of the sector and an interest in the cause you are raising money for can often be more valuable than formal qualifications.

Various courses are available for people interested in a position as Fundraising Officer, and a selection of those contained within the voluntaryskills.com database can be found at www.voluntaryskills.com/training