A Day in the Life of a Fundraiser

The spirit of volunteerism is a growing part of the Western culture of modern times and a sincere passion for a cause and the ability to communicate may be all it takes to launch a successful career as an institutional solicitor. For college and university level students who sense their passion and career aspirations lay in the aid and assistance of the less fortunate both within their local communities and abroad, fundraising can launch the careers of many who are poised for success. In the realm of charitable giving, a day in the life of a fundraiser takes place in the private and public sectors and there are so many ways to make a difference. A day in the life of a fundraiser results in the development of many insights and styles of communication as they are poised to interact with a large cross-section of the community at large on a daily basis thus setting the foundation for future success.

For most charitable foundations, fundraising is a challenging necessity. Depending on the size and scope of the organization in question, a day in the life of a fundraiser can be one of peaks and valleys as challenges are met and overcome. Fundraisers are required to communicate up and down the corporate and community food chains with ease and grace, especially when under pressure. In the day in the life of a fundraiser,knowledge is power hence, any street fundraiser worth his or her salt will set aside time in each day dedicated to reading and watching the news so as to familiarize him or herself with prospective donors and foundations, their counterparts and charitable objectives. With experience and the passage of time, communication with peers and colleagues becomes more and more invaluable in the day of the life of a fundraiser, so time spent reaching out and responding to emails and telephone calls is also very important.

When corporate giving is aligned with his or her institutional goals as part of a community effort, a day in the life of a fundraiser can be invested in developing and maintaining relationships with the appropriate connections within the given organization over time can be a most important asset in the day of the life of a fundraiser.

Because most organizations will budget their fundraising goals over a 12 month period and have a variety of ways to reach potential donors, street fundraisers play a large role with regard to making a difference on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

There is a strong social component to fundraising and the successful street fundraiser understands the importance of networking, connecting and introductions as a basis for future success; in the scope of the typical institutional fundraiser, these types of interactions segue into working lunches, drinks, dinners and other mostly social activities because he or she what it means to be in the place where they are best able to make the ‘right’ connections. To this end, a flexible schedule is an important aspect of every day. A gracious understanding of written and oral communications is also a must.

Satisfaction found in a job well done can be a norm, in the day of a life of a fundraiser, as are the dynamics of never experiencing the same day twice. A street fundraiser will enjoy the momentum found in the fast paced environment, the minute to minute thrill of meeting new people and the success found in relating a cause to the benefit of others. If you want to get a fundraising job, then a recruitment agency such as Flow Caritas can help you with the information about the availability of such jobs.

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