Market Insight: Fundraising Recruitment in 2025

As we move through 2025, the fundraising recruitment market is showing some clear trends — and plenty of opportunity for skilled professionals ready to take their next step.

High Demand for Fundraisers

As expected, demand for high-value fundraisers remains strong. In particular, specialists in corporate partnerships and philanthropy are highly sought after. We’re seeing:

• More roles being advertised across the sector

• Higher salaries as organisations compete for top talent

• Increased movement between roles, with highly competitive application processes

What Organisations Want to See

With so much competition, it’s not enough to simply list your responsibilities on an application. Hiring managers want clear evidence of impact. This means showcasing not only what you did, but the results you achieved.

The strongest applications and interviews include examples such as:

• Which corporates you successfully partnered with

• How you secured those partnerships and built relationships

• The income you generated (numbers really matter here)

• Most importantly, the difference that income made to the organisation and its beneficiaries

Fundraising is About Outcomes

At the heart of it, fundraising is about outcomes. The more clearly you can demonstrate the tangible impact of your work, the stronger your position will be in today’s market.

For fundraisers looking to progress in 2025, the message is simple: showcase your results, not just your responsibilities.

By Moses Thomas-Johnson, Consultant at Merrifield Consultants