Sector pay has made its way up the agenda again over recent months. Findings from the research featured in the cover story of this month’s issue point to an increasing dissatisfaction among charity employees around pay, and related issues of promotion and career development. Inflationary pressures and the overall cost of living are making it tough to make ends meet, not only at entry level but also for those in management positions. This issue’s Agent Provocateur article powerfully addresses this topic, calling out charities for barely paying minimum wage.
As for fundraising specifically, the problem is acute. While few people join the sector to get rich, they expect to be able to live. A quick scan through the jobs section of trade publications indicates entry-level roles struggle to hit £23,000 and even midlevel positions rarely crack the £35,000 ceiling. You don’t need me to tell you that fundraising is a highly-skilled profession, often involving long hours and intense pressure to hit financial targets. Yet you can earn the same amount or more working in much less demanding jobs.
Pouring lighter fuel onto the BBQ, the Telegraph last month recycled its perennial gripe about charity CEO pay, claiming that the six-figure pay packets some senior employees earn is the reason why people don’t give to charity anymore – a statement that is both false (people do still give) and unproven (if people do stop giving, there are a million reasons why and I suspect CEO pay is pretty low on the list).
Furthermore, in our New Voices section, which shines a spotlight on those new to the sector, the proportion of contributors who volunteered/fundraised before getting a paid job is very high – another barrier to inclusion.
So we have a media stirring up public ire at “high” charity pay and a workforce disincentivised by low pay. Until we can change both the systemic issues underlying pay structures and the public perception of it, we are stuck in a never-ending cycle. I’m not sure anyone knows what the solution is at this point given the financial pressures on charities, and there certainly isn’t a quick-fix, but it is something the sector needs to address seriously if it is going to attract and retain a talented, diverse workforce.
@stevejcotterill is editor of Fundraising Magazine
