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Fundraising Manager

Alternative title

Average salary

Starter

Experienced

Usual hours

Twenty four-year-old Allana is a Corporate Fundraising Manager for Mermaids, a charity that supports gender variant and transgender youth.

The headlines

Alternative title

Starter

Experienced

Working hours

30-40 hours a week but could work on evening or weekend events

Usual hours

Topics

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What do you do in your role?

I work on building great relationships with companies that have supported us for years or ones that have just heard of Mermaids and want to get involved.

Some may be looking to volunteer, some may want to give us funding or sponsor an event/project, some want to collaborate on a product to raise money and awareness for the charity. I work on fundraising campaigns such as 'Raise a Mug for Mermaids' which is a digital pack to make office fundraising easier.

There are lots of creative aspects to my job but I also need to keep on top of a lot of admin work like writing partnership agreements. Public speaking is also an important part of the job. I often speak at big corporate fundraising events or take part in educational panels.

Everyday can be different but the goal is always the same: to find and build a great network of companies to support the incredible work Mermaids does to support trans children, young people and their families.

How did you get into this job?

It was completely by accident! I actually went to college for animal care then tried a zoology course in university but it wasn't right for me. I left and started working my way up in an office from admin assistant to charity partnerships manager.

Mermaids was the first LGBTQ+ charity I got to work with. I loved the amazing work they did to support trans children and jumped at the chance to apply when my current role became available. I didn't have any formal fundraising qualifications but I did have lots of experience in managing partnerships and plenty of passion for the cause.

What qualifications do you need to get into your role?

There are qualifications out there that can help you enter this career. Fundraising courses are great but not essential to work in fundraising as experience is greatly valued.

What else would someone need to do this job?

The most important thing you need is relationship building skills and a strong passion for the charity you work for, as that will always come across in meetings. If there is a particular charity you want to work for start by volunteering or do some fundraising of your own.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?

While I really enjoy the creative and social parts of the job, the most rewarding part is knowing that the money I raise through corporate fundraising is funding all the amazing work Mermaids does for the trans community.

We support people directly via our helpline, local groups and family days which aim to alleviate the emotional/metal distress of young trans people and reduce the isolation they experience by being there for them and connecting them with a community. We campaign for the things that matter most to trans children and young people and educate wider society on trans issues.

What's the most challenging?

I am always meeting new people as part of my job but just because they want an LGBTQ+ charity partner that doesn’t always mean they are educated on trans specific issues.

Unfortunately it is a very difficult time to be trans right now in the UK, due to anti-trans rhetoric currently coming from our government and a lot of UK media. People are often misinformed as to what the real issues are for the trans community or believe that supporting Mermaids means making a political statement.

I always need to gain an understanding of the level of education a person or company has about trans issues before going ahead with any partnership, this often means it becomes my responsibility to educate on why it’s so difficult to be trans in the UK today.

What do you wish that you'd known when you were starting out?

I wish I had known how much public speaking would be involved in my role. It was not something I had much experience of beforehand so it was a new skill I had to learn quickly.

It's not unusual for large fundraising events to request a speaker from the charity who can talk about all the amazing work their charity does. As much as I love to talk about Mermaids it can be a little nerve wracking in front of lots of people.

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Fundraising Manager

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Fundraising Manager

Got any questions?Head to our Discord and join the conversation.

Follow us

Don't know what you want to do? We'll help you find a career you can care about.

Got any questions?
Head to our Discord and join the conversation.