Public Relations and Fundraising Manager Career

public-relations-manager-50Public relation managers play a pivotal role in planning and creating materials that advance the public identity of their employers. Fundraising managers coordinate various campaigns that seek to generate donations for their organizations.

Notably, 78 percent of public relations and fundraising managers have bachelor’s degree, 8 percent have master’s degree, while 7 percent have associate’s degree. Professionals engaged in the fields of public relations and fundraising must have excellent communication skills, leadership abilities, organizational capabilities, as well as writing and problem solving skills.

Public Relations and Fundraising Manager Career Snapshot

Most public relations and fundraising managers work for religious, professional, civic and grant-making organizations, as well as state, local and private educational facilities on a full time basis. Besides working in their offices during regular business hours, they travel to attend meetings, deliver speeches and engage in community activities.

Further details on a career as a public relations and fundraising manager are listed below (statistics from the May 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$107,320

is the average annual pay for public relations and fundraising managers.

7%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

78%

have a Bachelor’s degree while 8% have a Master’s degree.

Public Relations & Fundraising Manager Education

For entry-level positions, public relations and fundraising managers must have a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, English, communications or fundraising. However, some employers prefer one to have a master’s degree in public relations, nonprofit management or journalism. Even though it is not mandatory, public relations and fundraising managers may get certification through the Public Relations Society of America, the International Association of Business Communicators or CFRE International.

Public Relations & Fundraising Manager Job Duties

Public relations managers develop the corporate image of an organization or client besides devising innovative promotional and advertising programs. Fundraising managers are mandated with the duty of identifying and contacting potential donors, developing and managing fundraising strategies and applying for grants.

Public Relations & Fundraising Manager Salaries

In 2016, according to BLS.gov, the median annual salary of public relations and fundraising managers was $107,320 with that of the highest paid (10 percent) being $205,110 while that of the lowest paid (10 percent) being $59,070 per year. Managers who work in the professional, technical and scientific industries earn higher pay compared to those who render their services for local and state governments. Education and experience defines where one will work and what positions they will hold, thus highly educated public relations and fundraising managers are well remunerated.

Public Relations & Fundraising Manager Job Outlook

Between 2014 and 2024, recruitment of public relations and fundraising managers is projected to grow by 7 percent. Growth of online social media will result in the increase of good and bad news, thus the need for public relations managers to coordinate and respond to new developments with the objective of maintaining an organization’s reputation. In addition, fundraising managers will become increasingly important to many organizations that depend on donations and use social media to enhance their fundraising activities.

Public Relations and Fundraising Manager Skills & Traits

Public Relations & Fundraising Manager Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Public Relations & Fundraising Managers:Typical Work Activities:
• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Social Perceptiveness
• Oral Expression
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Oral Comprehension
• Desktop computers
• Notebook computers
• Photocopiers
• Computer scanners
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Thinking Creatively

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