How to be a fundraiser (with the UK’s biggest fundraising agency)
Fundraising is a powerful tool that can make a significant difference in the world. Whether you are passionate about supporting a particular charitable cause, helping your community, or looking at a career path that you can build upon, being an effective fundraiser requires knowledge, skill, and dedication. In this article, we explore the journey from complete newcomer to the world of fundraising right up to a fully fledged face to face fundraiser at Charity Link. We take a look at the various strategies and techniques we use to help you become the most successful fundraiser you can be. From understanding the importance of building relationships to leveraging mystery shoppers and compliance effectively, we provide valuable insights and actionable tips to guide you on your journey towards making an impact through fundraising.
Why do people choose fundraising for a living?
This question has a myriad of different answers and we've learned that every fundraiser has their own story about why they chose fundraising jobs. What we do know is that most people end up as fundraisers because they love the idea of doing something that makes a difference and they already possess at least some of the skills required to do the job well.
From pub landlords, car salesmen, bank managers and estate agents, we often see that those who do best in the fundraising role already have experience with working with the public. They feel totally comfortable striking up conversation with strangers. They'll typically have at least some history of sales work too. This really contributes to success because essentially fundraisers are selling the role of being a charity supporter.
Another key reason that a lot of fundraisers choose the job, is because they have direct experience of the charities we partner with. Whether they have a relative experiencing blindness, a spouse that's been through cancer or they just love dogs, there's passion beneath the surface that really drives and motivates them. Being able to relate to a charity makes a lot of our fundraisers want to make a positive contribution through their work.
Fundraising at private sites and even home to home means moving around the country and seeing some pretty exciting places and events. These can be really beneficial for people who love variety in their work. A lot of fundraisers really enjoy access to places they've never been before and would never have seen if it weren't for the job.
Of course, there are financial benefits too. Paid fundraising can be a lucrative career choice and for those at the top of their game, £65k a year salary is not out of reach. That, coupled with the benefits of being fully employed, such as a healthcare plan, pension scheme and death in service means a fundraising career is an attractive package.
Understanding the role of face to face fundraiser
The concept of the fundraiser job is a simple one, but it's certainly not easy.
Although every day is different because you'll speak to different people and be in different places, the basic role of the face to face fundraising jobs is the same. Fundraisers are there for two main reasons. The first is to educate the public about their cause, the second (and most important) is to ask for regular donations to help their charity reach its goals.
Probably the most difficult part of being a face to face fundraiser is dealing with constant rejection. The reality of the fundraising role is that you will be ignored, told no and even confronted for simply doing your job. Unfortunately you just can't escape this, which means tenacity and resillience is absolutely crucial.
As you can imagine being on your feet all day and the repetitive nature of the role can get exhausting, which is why good fundraisers learn to evenly distribute their energy, when to take breaks and when to reach out for support. A certain type of mindset is needed to overcome hurdles and excel and a lot of people are just not able to cope.
But on the flipside there are the many golden moments, where human connection is at it's most real. Many fundraisers describe a kind of warmth from the public for being the people who are making the difference. Some have even described how complete strangers open their door and burst into tears just because they recognise and appreciate the charity so much. In some cases, people share the most intimate stories about how they've been touched by the cause and express deep gratitude for anyone associated with it - including the fundraiser in front of them. Others see the good once it's explained and simply want to be a part of it by becoming a donor.
Being someone that is able to effectively inspire others to act for the good of the whole is an incredible feeling. Going to bed each night knowing that someones life is easier because of you is a pretty special thing.
Natural salespeople tend to do especially well at fundraising because they enjoy the pschological side of seling as well as the challenges around handling objection. Rejection slides of their back as they focus on the next donor.
Applying for a job as a fundraiser
At Charity Link applying to be a charity fundraiser is the same as with any job. After researching the role and making sure you've got the fundamental things in place, such as being a 'people person', having a driving licence and at least some experience in a customer facing role, then it's time to take the next steps.
Once you've emailed to register your interest and shared your CV, one of the recruitment team will get in touch for an initial telephone interview to chat through your experience and the role itself.
If you make it through that stage, you'll be invited to attend a one hour virtual interview, where a member of our experienced recruitment team will take you through the onboarding process in more detail and get to know you much better.
For those who are deemed suitable for the role, a final stage called the fundraiser experience takes place. This is where you'll be asked to attend a location near to your home to witness a professional fundraiser in their daily job so you can get a real feel for the job itself and what it's like.
Finally if you receive a job offer, you'll join our award winning training academy.
Fundraising training and our training academy
The training academy lasts 12 weeks and involves a combination of different learnings and on the job experience.
The first week is done online with our Learning and Development specialist in groups and goes through the basics including:
An introduction to Charity Link and our benefits
Training on charities and the fundraising campaign you'll be working with
Understanding your kit and tablet
The basics of pitching to potential donors
What makes a great fundraiser
Fundraising techniques and communication skills
Health & safety
Compliance
Objection handling & consolidation
Assessment
From there, new starters are allocated to their team manager and assigned a regional trainer or New Starter Tutor who'll be there to give guidance and feedback whilst they get used to being on site or doing door to door fundraising raising money.
The fundraisers work will be closely monitored and supported like this for the first four weeks, after which they'll be gradually left to self manage with weekly check ins with their team manager or as needed. Head office management departments will also be involved in daily life, such as our venues team should you need to change venues at the last minute (for instance if the weather is terrible), or field support should you need new or different kit (such as gazebos). You'll also be encouraged to share your experiences with photos which will be used by Charity Link on social media platforms to market our business.
Learn more about fundraiser training here
Why compliance is so important (in a nutshell)
Compliance is the single most important thing about the role of fundraiser.
Fundraisers must always remember that they're representing their charities and that everything they do in public is reflected back.
If face to face fundraisers lie, are rude, exaggerate, manipulative or pushy, it makes a terrible impression and will likely incur complaints either to the charity or to the fundraising regulator. These complaints have serious consequences for both the charities and any third party fundraising agency like Charity Link.
See the 10 most non-compliant behaviours here
Other than being socially unacceptable and harmful to the reputation of our nonprofit organizations, any company soliciting donations from the public are bound to be strict guidelines set out in the Fundraising Code of Practice. Should the company be caught breaking these rules, they're likely to incur penalty points which can result in thousands of pounds worth of fines.
It should be said that fundraisers sometimes make mistakes without realising they're being non-compliant, and for lighter 'offences' are given chances to correct and improve or in some instances given refresher training.
The basics of effective communication techniques for fundraisers
There are a few ingredients that make up good communication, but probably the most surprising is listening!
Without properly listening to what potential donors are saying, fundraisers can't establish how best to move the conversation forward. Just repeating the same old script in the same way each time is not going to make for a successful pitch.
By asking succinct questions in a way that gives the donor space to open up and share (i.e. not yes or no answer questions), fundraisers can choose which direction to take the conversation in based on the expanse of knowledge they're holding. Choosing which facts about the charity will share can have real influence on how the donor, based on their motivations, beliefs and empathy.
Basically when any conversation has gone well it's because it's been educational, entertaining and feels natural and easy. This is what fundraisers should aim for with every interaction.
You can learn more about good fundraiser communication here
Building relationships with strangers in 2 minutes
Building great relationships quickly also relies upon excellent communication skills.
There are lots of things a fundraiser can do to make a positive impact straight away - warm facial expressions, comfortable and open body language, even tone of voice and great eye contact are all things a fundraiser can focus on to make sure they're giving the conversation the best beginning.
Learn about grabbing and keeping attention here
Resources and tools for fundraisers
There are many excellent resources for fundraisers to rely on. At Charity Link we educate and communicate with fundraisers weekly through team meetings, newsletters, social media and even our national conferences. Our charity partners frequently share updates on campaigns and general news.
Charity Link also hosts a podcast called 'The Daily Fundraise' and publishes weekly blogs on a huge number of fundraising related topics.
Listen to the Daily Fundraise Podcast
In conclusion, becoming a successful fundraiser requires a combination of passion, dedication, and strategic thinking. By following the steps outlined in this article - identifying your cause, building relationships, leveraging technology, and staying organised - you can increase your chances of making a meaningful impact.
Remember that fundraising is not just about asking for money; it is about connecting with people who share your vision and inspiring them to contribute to a cause they believe in. With the right mindset and tools at your disposal, anyone can become an effective fundraiser and make a difference in their community or beyond.
If face to face charity fundraising seems like something you’d be interested to pursue, click the button below and get in touch with our friendly recruitment team - we’d love to hear from you!
