Fundraisers raise funds or money for nonprofit organizations, such as educational institutions, health research foundations and political campaigns. Fundraisers rely on a number of methods to bring in the big bucks, including cold calling, grant writing and event and campaign organizing. Their job might also entail working with the organization’s board members, training volunteers and keeping tabs on donors.

Sandy Rees was working as a fundraiser at Second Harvest Food Bank in Maryville, Tennessee, when she had an epiphany. "I realized that when I did my job well, people ate," Rees says. "I hated the thought that anyone would go hungry on account of me." That revelation gave her the courage to pick up the phone and perform cold calls, which weren’t her favorite part of the job. It was also the impetus she needed to triple the amount of money coming into the food bank over the five years of her employment.

Now, Rees is the founder and CEO – or "chief encouragement officer" as she explains it – of Get Fully Funded, an organization that educates nonprofits on how to effectively fundraise. In a video on her website, Rees says: "I show founders and executive directors how to raise all the money they need to fully fund their programs, so they can spend more time changing lives and less time worrying about money."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.2% employment growth for fundraisers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 6,500 jobs should open up

Fundraisers can have a variety of educational backgrounds, but some employers prefer that job applicants have a bachelor’s degree in business or communications. There are some master’s programs in fundraising or philanthropic studies, which might include classes on grant writing or major gifts. Fundraisers might also gain experience by taking internships or volunteering for an organization’s fundraising campaigns.

Rees says that a specific degree doesn’t matter too much. "I can teach folks how to raise money, but I can’t teach them how to have a great conversation or how to care about a cause," she says. "I look for the things that I can’t teach, and I teach the other stuff."