The Development, Fundraising, and Alumni Relations Workforce in Higher Education

Higher education institutions rely on support from donors to improve and sustain the institution. Employees within development, fundraising, and alumni relations (fundraising employees) play a pivotal role in securing vital funding through connections and support from alumni. In addition, they help fulfill the university's philanthropic mission by creating educational opportunities, building relationships, and providing academic opportunities for students. In this report, we define the roles of fundraising employees, examine the typical makeup of fundraising employees based on institutional classification, and present information on salaries of fundraising employees. We then explore retention aspects, examining median number of years in position and age of fundraising employees. Next, we examine the diversity and pay equity of women and minorities in fundraising employee positions. Lastly, we discuss conclusions that will guide higher ed in addressing fundraising employee retention issues.