Charity fundraiser apprenticeships - where to start
You can get into this job through
a university coursean apprenticeshipworking towards this rolevolunteeringapplying directlyspecialist courses run by a professional body
University
You could do a degree subject relevant to working in fundraising, which may give you an advantage when applying for jobs, especially in corporate fundraising. Subjects include marketing, media and communications, public relations and business studies. You could also do a university course in a subject like voluntary sector management or public service management.
You'll usually need 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent.
Apprenticeship
You could do a fundraiser Level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship which could help you get into online fundraising.
You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths.
Work
You could start out working for a charity in an admin or support role and move into fundraising once you've got more experience in the voluntary sector.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a good way to get experience in fundraising and the other sides of charity work. It's also a great way to start making contacts in the sector, which can lead to paid job opportunities.
Direct Application
You can apply directly to get into charity fundraising, if you've got relevant experience from other work, for example advertising, public relations, events, sales or finance.
Other Routes
You could do a specialist course like the Certificate or Diploma in Fundraising offered by the Institute of Fundraising. You'll normally need to be working in fundraising to do these.
Some of the larger charities also offer graduate training schemes. Employers will usually be more interested in your skills, experience and commitment to working in the charity sector than in your formal qualifications.
Charity fundraiser apprenticeships - what it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- persistence and determination
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- sensitivity and understanding
- knowledge of English language
- business management skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Charity fundraiser apprenticeships - what you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
You could:
- research, develop and plan fundraising ideas
- manage door-to-door and street collections
- recruit and train volunteers
- keep records and report performance
- manage charity shops and online and mail order stores
- control budgets and meet targets
- give talks about your charity to the public
- write reports and press releases
Working environment
You could work from home or in an office.
Career path and progression - Charity fundraiser apprenticeships
You could work towards a professional qualification from the Institute of Fundraising.
With experience, you could move into charity management, or become a self-employed fundraising consultant.