Charities should be investing more in their fundraising team’s professional development, according to a new report.
Online community platform Fundraising Everywhere surveyed 339 professionals, most of whom are experienced fundraisers with management responsibilities at their charities, and 47% said that they don’t have a learning and development plan.
Some 12% of respondents had a learning and development plan that is regularly reviewed.
Meanwhile, 7% of fundraising staff surveyed said that feel that their learning and development needs will all be met in the next 12 months.
Job dissatisfaction higher where learning and development needs not met
The report also found that fundraisers were more likely to be dissatisfied with their jobs if their learning and development needs were not met.
Respondents who lacked access to learning and development were 10 times more likely to want to leave their job within the next year than those who were offered more learning and development opportunities.
Those with access to learning and development opportunities were more likely to be happier in their jobs, according to the report, implying a relationship between organisational culture and attitudes to learning and development.
Fundraisers who feel supported in their learning and development (L&D) are also far more likely to reach their fundraising targets, the report says.
Writing in the report’s intro, Fundraising Everywhere's co-founder Nikki Bell and head of membership engagement Cam St-Omer Donaldson said: “The data shows that a sustained commitment to L&D resources and budget fosters a culture of continuous learning, which ultimately drives both individual growth and organisational success.
“We hope this research strengthens the case for prioritising professional development within your organisation and within the wider fundraising sector.”
