How to hire fundraisers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations. • Create or update donor databases. • Develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs. • Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions. • Identify and build relationships with potential donors. • Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors. • Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors. • Write and send letters of thanks to donors. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking and active learning skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, English Language, sales and marketing and administration and management • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $34.88 an hour ($72,550 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for fundraisers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to create or update donor databases. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What fundraisers do
- Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.
- Create or update donor databases.
- Develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs.
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
- Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
- Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
- Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for fundraisers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +5.5% over ten years, faster than average · about 10,000 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay fundraisers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,840 |
| New York | $80,540 |
| Maryland | $79,780 |
| California | $79,710 |
| Massachusetts | $79,060 |
| Montana | $61,280 |
| Texas | $60,320 |
| Alabama | $60,120 |
See fundraisers pay in every state
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.