# Fundraising needs formal pathways into the profession, report suggests

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/09/14/fundraising-needs-formal-pathways-into-the-profession-report-suggests/
- Published: 2020-09-14T09:12:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The fundraising profession is experiencing a ‘market failure’ and should have 
formal qualifying pathways in line with other occupations, according to a new report.**

 

The report, _Accident Prevention_, was commissioned by [Cause4](https://www.cause4.co.uk/)
and [Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy](https://artsfundraising.org.uk/) and examines
routes into fundraising. While there is increasing demand for skilled fundraisers,
it states, only 5% of fundraisers actively chose it as a profession. The majority(
44%) become a fundraiser by ‘accident’ with no major decision to choose this as 
a job, with 42% gradually coming to the decision to become a fundraiser over time.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

 

Ending or minimising accidental routes into fundraising is seen as vital by the 
report’s author, Ian MacQuillin, who suggests that only by actively promoting fundraising
as a profession and introducing formally recognised qualifications will the charity
sector acquire the competencies needed to plug the growing skills gap.

 

MacQuillin argues that establishing a required framework would help to end exploitative
and unfair routes into the profession, for example by requiring that candidates 
already have undertaken unpaid or low-paid roles to gain experience or connections.

 

The report also calls for a radical rethink of the type of traits and qualities 
recruiters should look for in candidates, suggesting that current practice is focused
on behaviours and attitudes, rather than concrete skills and knowledge  to the detriment
of the sector.

 

Ian MacQuillin, Director and Founder of fundraising think tank [Rogare,](http://www.rogare.net)
said:

 

> “We wouldn’t expect a surgeon or accountant to ‘fall in’ to their profession so
> why do we expect the same from fundraisers? We must urgently remove the reluctance
> to establish a set of standard competencies and skills in fundraising. Our findings
> highlight that, while the charity sector attracts passionate and values-driven
> individuals, we cannot leave finding good fundraisers to chance and possibly the
> best way to do this is by establishing a qualifying entry route into the profession.”

 

Michelle Wright, Programme Director, Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy added:

 

> “This is an important piece of work that asks urgent questions about what we look
> for in candidates for fundraising roles and how and where the gaps are. Should
> we be looking for experience or track record? How do we assess their suitability
> for a role? Ending the subjectivity entrenched in recruitment practices could 
> be the best way of ensuring the charity sector attracts a skilled and diverse 
> pool of talent for years to come.”

 * **[Who’s moving? New Fundraising Director appointments, & other news](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/12/07/whos-moving-new-fundraising-director-appointments-other-news/)**(
   7 December 2020)
 * **[New CEOs for Changing Faces & Trust for London, & more mover news](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/04/14/new-ceos-for-changing-faces-trust-for-london-more-mover-news/)**(
   14 April 2021)
 * **[Marcus Missen joins Leonard Cheshire & other charity appointments](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/26/marcus-missen-joins-leonard-cheshire-other-charity-appointments/)**(
   26 May 2021)

![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader-
2x.gif)