Careers in Fundraising: 4 Alternative Careers for Fundraising Professionals
If you’re at a turning point in your career as a development professional and looking for a change, a role that still aligns with your passion for making a positive impact is within reach. Let’s explore some alternative careers in fundraising that allow you to shift gears and stay true to your passion.
Where You Can Make an Impact: 4 Alternative Careers for Fundraisers
Non-profits, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and the arts all require donations to stay afloat. Even though you’re working for a valuable cause, fundraising comes with its own set of challenges, from donor fatigue to economic fluctuations. If you want to take a new approach, the fundraising field is rich with diverse roles beyond a traditional fundraiser position. Each of these alternative options leverages your skill set but shares the common objective of securing funding for impactful causes.
1. Grant writing: A grant writer is a critical link between nonprofits or educational institutions and the funding they need to execute their missions. It requires a keen ability to research, articulate project goals clearly, and persuasively present the needs of an organization to potential funders. Grant writers must possess excellent writing skills, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the grant application process.
2. Donor relations management: Rather than soliciting new business, a role in donor relations management focuses on building and maintaining strong, positive relationships with existing donors. It involves strategic communication, stewardship, and engagement activities designed to acknowledge donors’ contributions and keep them informed about the impact of their donations, to cultivate their ongoing support.
3. Event planning: Event planners oversee planning and executing events ranging from weddings and corporate gatherings to conferences and charity fundraisers. People who choose to focus on event planning need to be good at multi-tasking and planning.
4. Franchising: An entrepreneurial route where you can run a fundraising business focused on providing innovative solutions to schools, clubs, and community organizations may be the right choice. Being an entrepreneur requires strong business acumen and drive. As a franchisee, you’ll have unlimited earnings potential, and the ability to achieve financial freedom and self-sufficiency.
A successful transition into these roles requires a blend of communication, networking, strategic planning, and project management skills. Experience in sales, marketing, or any role that demands persuasive communication will serve you well.
While the financial aspect of fundraising roles can vary, the potential for a rewarding career is significant, especially for those in senior positions or with niche expertise. However, the true value of careers in fundraising lies in the impact of your efforts — enabling organizations to achieve their missions and contribute positively to the community.
Apex Leadership: A Rewarding Future in Franchising
If you’re thinking about a bold career move, choosing to open a fundraising franchise can help you achieve your financial and lifestyle goals. It offers the autonomy of being your own boss, the flexibility to create your schedule, and the satisfaction of seeing the tangible impact of your work.
The average fundraising salary in the U.S. only increased by 6.7% in 2022, barely keeping up with inflation, according to the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. Pursuing entrepreneurship allows you to take charge of your financial future and control your destiny. A fundraising franchise like Apex Leadership enables you to embrace entrepreneurship while fulfilling your philanthropic goals.
Apex provides a structured approach to fundraising, emphasizing community engagement and support. Launching a fundraising franchise means investing in a business with a proven model, significantly reducing startup risks. When you start a fundraising business with Apex, you’ll receive extensive support in training, marketing, and operations, allowing you to focus on building a business that makes a real difference in your community.
The market potential for school fundraisers is projected to hit $340 million by 2025. Right now only 30% of the country’s 74,000 elementary and middle schools rely on a run or walk event to raise funds, according to a survey conducted by Greater Giving, providing hefty growth potential. Our locations also have strong unit economics with $550,000 AUV at $150,000 EBITDA. Our top 25% of franchises reached an AUV of $1.3 million with $350,000 EBITDA.*
If you’re intrigued by the idea of launching a franchise that aligns with your passion for making a difference, consider partnering with Apex. Request information about Apex and start making a significant impact in your community today.
* This is a historical representation of what some of our franchised stores earned as described further in Item 19 of the FDD. Your results may differ.