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CIOF surveys to map the UK’s fundraising profession
Howard Lake | 5 June 2026 | News
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) has launched two UK-wide surveys designed to create the clearest picture yet of the fundraising profession.
The surveys, announced at the Institute’s Fundraising Convention in Westminster, London, explores who fundraisers are, how they experience their careers, and what supports or limits progression and opportunity. The initiative aims to move beyond anecdotal evidence and establish a data set to inform future policy, professional standards, learning, guidance, and advocacy for the profession.
The surveys should prove particularly useful as charities and fundraising teams face multiple sustained and significant challenges related to recruitment, retention, burnout, inclusion, leadership development, and long-term investment.
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Fundraisers across the sector have consistently highlighted issues such as unequal access to career progression, heavy workload pressures, a lack of transparency, and inconsistencies in how fundraising is valued within organisations. At the same time, fundraising leaders are making complex decisions on performance, investment, and inclusion “without reliable sector-wide benchmarking data”.
Ceri Edwards, Executive Director of Engagement at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, emphasised the urgency of the task:
“If fundraising is to thrive as a profession, we need a much clearer understanding of the people who make it happen and the systems that shape their careers. We need stronger evidence to turn those experiences into meaningful change”.
Edwards added that the collaboration is about building a profession that is “more inclusive, resilient and sustainable, one where people can thrive and where organisations are better equipped to support them”.
What the surveys will explore
The surveys will examine key areas including:
- How people enter fundraising and progress through their careers
- Pay, promotion, and workplace transparency
- Inclusion, culture, and wellbeing in fundraising workplaces
- Recruitment and retention challenges
- Investment in fundraising teams and people
- Governance, leadership, and board understanding of fundraising.
To ensure a full and accurate picture, the CIOF has released two separate surveys.
The Fundraiser Survey focuses on lived experience, career pathways, inclusion, wellbeing, and progression for fundraisers at all stages. The Leader Survey is aimed at directors and executives, exploring organisational practices, investment, recruitment, governance, and leadership.
The CIOF encourages all professionals across the sector to participate to ensure the findings reflect the full diversity of UK fundraising. All responses are confidential and reported in aggregate.
Take part in the surveys:
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.