Preparing for a Fundraising
Leadership role
http://www.charitycareersnorthwest.com/
Current market trends and opportunities in fundraising leadership
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The BTA 2014 NW Salary Survey showed salaries jumping from £23k (Officer) to £25k (Manager)
to £38.5k (Director/Head of) – demonstrating the real growth in salary and commensurate
responsibility once you are leading a team.
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Sole fundraisers: often initially a lower salary, ‘bottle washer’ responsibilities but are often also
effectively a ‘Head of’. CCNW is seeing a dramatic rise in these opportunities amongst smaller
charities and arts charities. Can be a good route in to leadership.
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Other trends - gender? Age? Competition from outside the sector?
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The really good news – we are starting to see more CEO’s coming from a fundraising
background, as boards take an increasing interest in the criticality of income generation
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This sounds good but how do you get there? What can you do to be better positioned to access
these roles yourself?
You have options
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Stick where you are
Another type of fundraising
Step down the ladder
Poacher turn gamekeeper
Consultant
Another part of the world
Supplier
Fundraising Leader
Salary levels by region/country
Northern Ireland
North West of
England
Scotland
Republic of
Ireland
Head/Director of
Fundraising
£37,500
£39,667
£40,880
£47,504
Fundraising
Manager
£29,881
£28,817
£30,588
£34,795
Fundraising Officer
£24,375
£23,933
£24,309
£29,907
Fundraising
Assistant
£19,167
£23,933
£21,650
£21,009
Fundraising
Administrator
£17,500
£16,500
£19,833
£19,474
The top five qualities of successful fundraising leaders
1. An understanding of all income streams
2. A strategic mindset
3. An understanding of the funding landscape
4. Leadership skills
5. Personal effectiveness
NOTE MUCH OF THE ABOVE DOES NOT RELATE
TO SPECIALIST FUNDRAISING SKILLS!!!
How to prepare
1. Join a Board of Trustees
2. Learn the language of leadership – Vision, Mission, Values
3. Prove you can be trusted – no gossip
4. Understand group dynamics
5. Get good at the numbers
6. Get a mentors/guides/peer groups
7. Behave like a leader - be articulate
8. Position yourself to be succession planned
How to get your leadership job
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Look in the right places
Network
Take advice from a recruiter
Consider a sideways move
Create your own value proposition
Be a superb applicant
Bruce reflection’s on leadership
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Its not about be being the best at all of the jobs
Its lonely
You’re not a teacher or a parent
You can’t delegate responsibility without delegating authority
Leadership is about having a toolkit
Don’t just spend your time dealing with troublemakers
You MUST make time to be a practitioner
Why do you want to do it – its probably not what you think
Your aspirations and barriers?
http://www.charitycareersnorthwest.com/