Develop a Meaningful Career Dedicated to Transforming Lives
At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a Lasallian Catholic university, students can find affordable, faith-based academic programs that lead to bachelor’s, master’s, and other degree types. The Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development is a low-residency and online program that can help prepare you for a career as a development or fundraising professional. Here, we discuss how to pursue this pathr and the potential career benefits.
What Is a Development Professional?
A development professional, also known as a fundraiser, is responsible for securing financial support and resources for organizations, typically non-profits. Their primary roles include:
- Relationship building: Cultivating and maintaining connections with potential and existing donors.
- Fundraising strategies: Developing and implementing campaigns to raise funds through various methods, including annual appeals, major gifts, and planned giving.
- Event management: Organizing and executing fundraising events to engage donors and raise awareness.
- Donor stewardship: Ensuring proper acknowledgment and recognition of donors, and reporting on the impact of their contributions.
- Marketing and communications: Creating promotional materials and messages to articulate the organization’s mission and financial needs.
- Data management: Maintaining accurate donor records and analyzing giving patterns to inform future strategies.
- Compliance: Ensuring all fundraising activities adhere to legal and ethical standards.
The ultimate goal of a development professional is to secure the necessary resources to support and advance their organization’s mission and programs by securing gifts, endowments, corporate giving, and annual campaigns.
How to Enhance Your Development and Professional Fundraising Career
The sector needs more highly-qualified development professionals. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a related field including communications, public relations, business, etc. you may want to consider obtaining your MA in Philanthropy and Development. At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, we offer an online Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development program that prepares students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed as professional fundraisers. Combined with a two-week summer residency at our Winona campus, students will build a powerful fundraising skill set to take their careers to the next level. Topics covered in this program include:
- Development plans, support documents, and donor acknowledgment charts
- Identifying and soliciting donors
- Donor relationships and communication
- Organizational readiness
- Managing major gift programs and capital campaigns
- Volunteer management
- Board governance
- Ethical and legal principles and requirements
This program is approved by Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE), which signifies it uses fundraising best practices and provides students with a strong foundation to pursue CFRE certification. For more information about our academics, course requirements, or admissions, browse our course catalog.
Benefits of Becoming a Development Professional
Besides the obvious benefit of helping beloved organizations and charities grow and thrive, a career as a development professional can offer several advantages. These include:
Strong Job Outlook
Becoming a development or professional fundraiser offers a strong job outlook, as charities and organizations continue to need people who can secure donations to support the mission of nonprofits.. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of fundraisers is projected to grow 6% through 2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations. There are about 10,000 fundraiser job openings projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Career Growth Opportunities
A development professional r can benefit from growth opportunities throughout their career. A fundraiser can start in entry-level positions and advance to higher roles like , development director, major gift officer, leadership gift officer etc., They also develop transferable skills that can be used in a wide range of jobs and networking connections that can benefit them in the future.
Earning Potential
A career as a development professional can provide a solid earning potential. The BLS reports the median annual wage for fundraisers was $64,160 in May 2023. Generally, fundraisers who work in educational, religious, or professional organizations make more than those who work in healthcare, social assistance, and other areas.
Build Your Skills as a Development Professional and Make a Greater Impact on the Nonprofit Sector
If a career as a development professional sounds fulfilling and intriguing, get started by applying to the MA of Philanthropy and Development program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. We have been a leader in philanthropy and development education grounded in our Lasallian Catholic principles for over 30 years, developing highly qualified and ethical professionals. To learn more about our programs, request more information today to connect with a counselor.
