Annual survey finds 84% of fundraisers are happy with their jobs.
Most fundraisers in the UK are happy with their job, according to a new survey.
The Status of UK Fundraising 2019 report found 84% of charity fundraisers enjoyed their role, with just 5% looking for a different job outside the sector.
Two-thirds (66%) of those working in fundraising said they were positive about the future of the third sector in Britain, although a similar number expressed concerns over challenges posed by the current political and economic climate.
The majority of respondents said digital communications had become vital to fundraising, with 94% using social media to connect with supporters. Almost four in every five charities (79%) had a digital strategy plan, although this number fell to 58% for smaller charities.
Social enterprise software firm Blackbaud, which conducted the report alongside the Institute of Fundraising (IoF), said the report also confirmed that long-term planning remained the key to success in the third sector.
David Benjamin, Blackbaud international markets group president, said: “Respondents to the survey told us that the keys to success are to innovate, plan and invest – and this is definitely something we can all learn from.
“62% told us their income growth was planned based on new and different activity, 60% said they could grow their income because they had enough people with the right level of skills in place, and 52% said they could grow their income because they have the right level of investment in activity.”
Peter Lewis, IoF chief executive, added: “Fundraising is a challenging job, but even in tough times it’s fantastic to see that fundraisers are relishing the task ahead.
“The research brings home how important the key elements of planning, investment, and strategy are to fundraising success. Fundraisers who said their charity’s income had decreased were much more likely to say it was because they were not resourced effectively or did not have enough people with the right skills.”
Although much of the report was positive, concerns were raised over the relatively low numbers of BAME fundraisers in the sector and the under-representation of women in key positions.
Mr Lewis said: “The findings on diversity and inclusion are in agreement with our ongoing research that there is clear underrepresentation in the fundraising workforce: only 8% of responding fundraisers are from a black and minority ethnic group, and women are under-represented in more senior roles.
“It’s clear that people feel that the sector as a whole needs to do more to address these issues, although there are some positive signs that respondents see appropriate action being taken, particularly within their own organisations.”
More than 1000 third-sector organisations were questioned for the report, which can be read in full on the Blackbaud website.
