Fundraising or fund raising (also development) is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies.   Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gather money for non-profit organizations, it is sometimes used to refer to the identification and solicitation of investors or other sources of capital for for-profit enterprises. Traditionally, fundraising consisted mostly of asking for donations on the street or at people's doors, and this is experiencing very strong growth in the form of face to face fundraising, but new forms of fundraising such as online fundraising have emerged in recent years.

Types of Fundraising Jobs

Foundation Director

Primary duties include strategic plan development and associated business plan execution resulting in improved grant fund-raising capacity. Qualifications: Three to five years of management experience in foundation development, including leading change and organizational growth through a planning process with the ability to work with persons from a diverse background in public and private settings.

Special Events Fundraiser

The Special Event Fundraiser is responsible for developing and executing plans for special events to raise money including:
• Solicitation and ability to secure high level sponsorship as well as in-kind donations
• Budget development and monitoring expenses for events, with the ability to have a contingency plan for making goals
• Community outreach and special event programs
• Recruiting and mentoring of volunteers
• Plan and execute special events, from beginning to end; organize all elements and prepare an action plan for each event

A Special Events Fundraiser background should include:
• At least 2-3 years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Leadership and initiative qualities
• Excellent research and development skills
• Computer proficiency, particularly in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Superb organizational, written and verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Outgoing and friendly personality, along with creativity and enthusiasm
• Ability to work independently and with volunteers, staff, donors, media and the general public
• Ability to work outside of regular business hours including nights and weekends :
• Bachelor’s Degree required