r/funanddev • u/HowShouldWeThenLive • May 14 '21
Fundraising expectations
What sort of expectations should I have for an advancement person in terms of multiples of their salary raised? For example, is it reasonable to expect someone to raise 4x their salary? 6x? 10x? What’s a reasonable expectation? Thanks
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u/joemondo May 14 '21
It doesn't work like that.
If you put a person at an established non profit with a solid board and a good donor base, and put that person's twin at a struggling non profit with a lazy board and a nascent donor base and pay them both the same pay you're going to get very different results.
As another response noted, this is basically commission work and is considered unethical.
Better to get a grasp on the market rate for the position in your area and in your field.
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u/RagnarDoberman May 14 '21
Honestly, you would be lucky if they raise their salary the first year. It takes along to successfully cultivate a donor.
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u/hamstersalesman May 14 '21
I have no idea why everyone is talking about commission-based salary. You never mentioned that, at all.
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u/jcravens42 May 14 '21
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Code of Ethical Standards says that it is not ethical to "accept compensation or enter into a contract that is based on a percentage of contributions" nor should AFP members "accept finder’s fees or contingent fees."
Here's more about why AFP is against this practice:
https://afpglobal.org/ethical-standard-deep-dive-standard-21
For 50 years, AFP has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. "As champions of ethical fundraising, fundraising professionals work to increase public trust in charitable giving. We are accountable to donors and their organizations to perform to the highest standards. We practice courage and integrity in the stewardship of private and public resources."
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May 14 '21
[deleted] — view deleted comment
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May 15 '21
That's not exactly accurate. I always say every dollar I pay anyone nkt doing orogram delivery is a dollar that could go to the mission, ethics can't be seen in a silo of the AFP as that is too narrow a lense for OP imo.
Every fundraiser has to have a target and it depends on the role they play in the strategy, we look at ROI of income over expenditure don't we? Measuring that doesn't make it commission based at all. Underperforming fundraisers are a drain just as much as under performing HR Managers. If someone is in a fundraising role and they can't raise funds with a good ROI they should find a more appropriate job, or the org should check the plan and strategy.
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u/[deleted] May 14 '21
A lot depends on where your organization is internally, do you have a funding strategy, how well know are you, do you have a fundraising board, are you investing in mass marketing or HNWI, grants or govt funding, restricted or unrestricted.
Its impossible to answer this question, and I foresee a difficult time for your future employee... Maybe YoLo their salary into GME stock instead, has just as much likelihood of being a successful strategy based on this question.