February 10, 2000 | Read Time: 4 minutes
Those with more experience get big pay raises, new survey finds
As the demand for experienced fund raisers grows,
many charities are offering big pay increases to their development officials, a new survey has found.
One in five fund raisers reported that their annual pay had increased by at least 10 percent, according to the survey by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. Another 37 percent saw their pay go up by at least 4 percent.
The increases are “a reflection of the demand for fund raisers’ knowledge, skills, and abilities; the growth of the non-profit sector; and the economic times we live in,” said Paulette Maehara, president of the society. “All of these factors are coming together, and it’s a positive for our profession.”
Nearly 20 percent of the survey respondents made more than $75,000 last year. Nine percent made $75,001 to $90,000, and 6.7 percent earned $90,001 to $115,000. A little over 2 percent of the respondents made more than $115,000.
The survey data were provided by 475 of the society’s nearly 22,000 members, who were asked how their income changed from 1997 to 1998, as well as about their current salary levels, fringe benefits, job responsibilities, employment history, and other data. It was the sixth such survey conducted by N.S.F.R.E. since 1981.
The survey found steady growth in the number of female fund raisers. Women made up 63.2 percent of the survey pool, up from just 38 percent in 1981.
But, as in many other professions, female fund raisers still make less than their male counterparts. For instance, the pay category in which the most men were included was the $60,001-to-$75,000 range; the greatest number of women said they were paid $40,001 to $50,000. And the pay range with the second-highest number of men was $50,001 to $60,000; for women, it was $33,001 to $40,000.
The gender gap in pay tended to disappear among fund raisers with 20 years or more of experience. “I think we are making inroads, but pay equity is still a problem,” said Ms. Maehara. “It mirrors the rest of the world.”
Among the survey’s other key findings:
* Nearly 20 percent of the fund raisers earned a bonus in 1998, with most of those receiving bonuses that equaled 1 percent to 6 percent of their total income. Only 4 percent said they received a bonus that was equal to 10 percent or more of their total income.
* Most respondents reported that their employers paid part or all of the cost of several perquisites, such as an automobile allowance, tuition assistance, and membership dues in professional organizations for fund raisers. More than 33 percent said their employers paid their dues in country clubs and other organizations where fund raisers can socialize with people who have the means to make substantial gifts.
* Close to 90 percent of fund raisers said their employers helped shoulder the cost of benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans, with substantial numbers reporting that their employers paid all of their health-insurance costs (37.9 percent) and retirement-plan contributions (28.6 percent).
* Nearly a third of the respondents reported that their duties include oversight of sales, marketing, or sponsorship deals with companies or other revenue-generating efforts that are not exclusively philanthropic arrangements. Although a significant number of fund raisers are involved in such activities, the charities at which they work still receive most fund-raising proceeds from traditional philanthropic sources: gifts from individuals, companies, and foundations.
* More than 30 percent of the respondents reported that the chief executive officer of their organization was a member of the fund-raising society. “This is another signal that the criteria for being a C.E.O. is increasingly fund-raising experience,” said Ms. Maehara. Because fund raising is often the stepping stone to the top job at non-profit organizations, and chief executives are expected to raise money, she said, “we find that C.E.O’s are a growing component of our membership.”
* Nearly three-quarters of the fund raisers did not hold any professional certification. The rest of the respondents said they had received certification from the fund-raising society or other professional organizations.
The “1999 Profile of NSFRE Members” has been mailed to the society’s members. Non-members can obtain a copy by sending $50 prepaid to the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, Sales Department, 1101 King Street, Suite 700, Alexandria, Va. 22314-2967; (703) 519-8464.
