Charity salaries and recruitment levels have continued to rise over the past year, according to a survey by charity recruitment specialist, Harris Hill.
More than 2,000 permanent positions have been created in fields of fundraising, marketing, finance, data management and HR, for nearly 700 charity and not-for-profit organisations, the recruiter said in its 2016 salary survey.
Figures only cover positions recruited for by Harris Hill. The recruiter said it believes that some of the increase has come from its own efforts to grow its business, but that a significant amount is down to increased recruitment in the charity sector.
The recruiter said that while salaries are rising, it cannot quantify this exactly due to changes in survey methodology.
The survey reports that charities have ramped up efforts to increase fundraising recruitment as they prepare to launch new strategies in the run-up to new regulations folowing last year's high-profile fundraising scandals.
Harris Hill fundraising recruiter, Rosheen Singh, said: “We’re seeing expansion within corporate fundraising and community fundraising teams, as some organisations look to offset a potential fall in individual donations by building better and stronger partnerships with business and community groups.
“Fundraisers with the relationship-building, business development skills these roles require can expect plenty of opportunities,” she said.
Singh warns charities not to bow to media pressure with regards to criticism of executive salary packages.
“In a year where charity finances have come under increasing scrutiny, with pay being another favourite media target, it’s understandable that many organisations are maintaining a cautious approach to remuneration," she said.
"However, salaries that fail to keep pace with the increased cost of living – a particular issue for the large number of London-based charities – can prove to be a false economy. A talented candidate who feels underpaid will generally leave the role before long, leading to further recruitment and training costs.”
The survey reveals that average salaries for general fundraising roles at smaller charities range between £20,000 to £42,000 for a senior role, while larger charities typically pay between £22,000 to £58,000.
Digital marketing remains an area of growth as charities report “significantly more hiring activity,” according to Harris Hill marketing recruiter Karl Ramsaran.
Although salaries increased only modestly over the past year, Harris Hill reports a 32 per cent increase in marketing vacancies from the previous year.
“With the advent of digital and data-led marketing techniques, the impact of marketing activity is far more easily measures and thus more highly valued – leading many organisations to invest in this area,” Ramsaran said.
Finance roles are reported to fetch between £22,000 for an assistant role at a larger charity, increasing to £65,000 for senior positions. Recruitment for positions is up by 14 per cent from last year, the survey reports.
