# Purpose still drives fundraisers, but CharityJob warns on the talent pipeline

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/08/06/purpose-still-drives-fundraisers-but-charityjob-warns-on-the-talent-pipeline/
- Published: 2026-08-06T16:14:26+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Making a difference remains the single biggest reason people are drawn to fundraising,
cited by 89% of current fundraisers and 83% of newcomers, according to new research
from CharityJob. The same research, however, points to barriers to entry and rising
pressures that could threaten the sector’s ability to attract and keep good fundraisers.**

The findings come from _The Voice of Fundraising: 2026 Report_, published this week
by CharityJob, “the UK’s largest specialist job board for the charity and voluntary
sector”. The report builds on last year’s edition and draws on the views of current
fundraisers, aspiring entrants, former fundraisers, and those weighing a return 
to the profession.

Among the headline findings:

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 * **45%** of newcomers and returners said they did not know **how to get started,
   or get back, into fundraising**.
 * **69%** of current fundraisers said **a higher salary could tempt them to leave
   fundraising.
 * **48%** said they **experience work-related stress usually or always**.
 * **54%** said they were **concerned about the effect of AI and automation** on
   fundraising roles.
 * **Two-thirds of former fundraisers** said they would **consider returning**.

Taken together, the figures describe a profession that people join for the right
reasons but find hard to enter, and, once in, hard to sustain. The salary and stress
findings will be familiar to many fundraising leaders, and the point about newcomers
not knowing how to get started is a practical prompt for charities that struggle
to fill vacancies.

## Why did fundraisers leave?

One of the questions that the research asked was why former fundraisers left their
role or the charity sector. The top four answers will be familiar to many, but are
a reminder of actions that charities can take to tackle retaining effective fundraisers.

![Charityjob chart - what factors motivated you to leave fundraising?](https://wfay6x.
infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/08/factors-motivated-you-to-leave-fundraising-chart-charityob-
report-202608@2x.png)

Chart: CharityJob

The next five reasons were all similar and mostly address values, culture and a 
sense of being valued. A ‘higher salary offer’ elsewhere was toward the bottom of
this top nine list.

Raya Wexler, Co-founder of CharityJob, said the report highlighted “several challenges
that employers should be paying close attention to,” from attracting new talent 
to supporting and developing existing fundraisers, adding that the findings offered“
valuable insight into how the fundraising workforce is evolving.”

The full report, [The Voice of Fundraising: 2026 Report](https://www.charityjob.co.uk/recruiterinsights/tips-for-fundraising-recruitment-and-retention/),
is available to download free from the CharityJob website.