A charity fundraiser works to raise money and awareness for charitable organisations. This role involves organising events, developing fundraising campaigns, building relationships with donors, and sometimes managing social media or public relations for the charity. Fundraisers may work for a specific charity or as part of a fundraising agency, and their day-to-day tasks can include writing grant applications, contacting potential sponsors, and coordinating volunteers. The role requires excellent communication skills, creativity, and strong organisational abilities. Fundraisers often work towards targets and may have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as corporate fundraising or digital campaigns.
Charity fundraisers in the UK typically earn between £20,000 and £35,000 per year, with senior roles reaching up to £50,000 or more.
There are approximately 168,000 registered charities in the UK, many of which employ fundraisers either full-time or part-time.
The charity sector employs over 900,000 people in the UK, with fundraising roles expected to grow as organisations seek new funding sources.
Organises and runs local events such as charity runs or bake sales to raise money and awareness for a specific cause.
Builds partnerships with local businesses and companies to secure sponsorships and donations for a charity.
Uses social media and online campaigns to encourage people to donate and support a charity's work.
Find out how charities operate, what types of charities exist, and what roles fundraisers play.
You can explore charity websites, read annual reports, or volunteer to gain insight. Understanding the sector helps you decide what type of causes you want to support, such as health, environment, or education charities. This knowledge will also help you when you apply for jobs or attend interviews.
Work on your written and verbal communication, as fundraisers need to persuade people to donate.
You can develop these skills through school projects, joining debating clubs, or volunteering in roles that require public speaking or writing. Effective communication is vital for creating compelling fundraising campaigns and building relationships.
Start volunteering for local charities to understand fundraising in action.
Volunteering gives you practical experience in organising events, speaking to donors, and working with teams. You might help with sponsored events, social media campaigns, or street collections. This experience also looks great on your CV and can lead to paid roles.
Participate in or help organise fundraising activities at school or in your community.
You could join or start a fundraising project, such as a bake sale, sponsored walk, or charity concert. This hands-on experience helps you develop organisational and teamwork skills, and shows employers your commitment to helping others.
Consider courses in subjects like marketing, business, communications, or social sciences.
Formal qualifications are not always required, but A-levels or a degree in a relevant subject can be helpful. Some colleges and universities offer specific courses in fundraising and charity management. There are also short courses and certificates available from organisations like the Institute of Fundraising.
Look for jobs such as Fundraising Assistant, Events Assistant, or Community Fundraiser.
You can search for vacancies on charity job boards, local council websites, or through volunteering contacts. In an entry-level role, you will learn on the job and gain skills you can use to progress to more senior fundraising positions.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Charity Fundraiser. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.
Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.
Remember, progressing in your career often involves further learning and training. This page provides insights into future career options as well as those that can lead up to your current one.
These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!
Raise funds for charitable causes.
A Charity Fundraiser and a Welfare rights adviser both work closely with charitable organisations and communities to support individuals in need. They require strong communication, advocacy skills, and a good understanding of social issues and support systems.
You can get into this job through:
You may be able to apply to do a Revenues and Welfare Benefits Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
This is sometimes offered by organisations like housing associations and local councils.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
You could start as an admin assistant with an advice organisation and gain experience before taking further training in welfare rights.
Some organisations offer trainee adviser roles. You might start out giving general advice and referring clients to relevant services, or help them to fill in forms.
Numeracy and literacy skills are very important. Employers also value good communication skills and the ability to understand complex written information.
Work in similar fields like community support or with a local authority can be helpful.
A common way to start is by volunteering in an advice centre.
As a volunteer, you would receive training in interviewing skills and advice topics, including welfare rights. It can take between 6 and 12 months to get enough experience to apply for jobs.
You can search for volunteering opportunities through:
You can apply to an advice agency for a range of different jobs, or for a trainee position.
Experience of supporting people with welfare rights issues can be helpful, for example:
Personal experience of dealing with the benefits system can also be useful.
A background in working with the public may also give you an advantage.
This might include:
Once working, your employer will give you training in welfare rights advice.
Gaining experience by volunteering or working in a related role where you support people on low incomes can give you an advantage when applying for jobs.
The ability to speak a community language or British Sign Language can be helpful for some work.
You could join the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers for networking opportunities, access to resources and to share information on best practice.
You can find out more about working in welfare rights from:
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
Address
Developing Experts Limited
Exchange Street Buildings
35-37 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1DP
UK
Phone
01603 273515
Email
[email protected]
Copyright 2026 Developing Experts, All rights reserved.
Unlock expert-designed lessons, resources, and assessments tailored for educators. No credit card required.
Claim Your Free Trial →
