Fundraisers Stay Where They Can Grow
Photo: Canva
Early in my career, I was fortunate to work for an organization that genuinely valued professional development. As a newbie fundraiser, I made it a priority each year to carve out time to learn, including two summer days attending the DFW Philanthropy in Action Conference hosted by the Dallas and Fort Worth AFP chapters. My first conference was 20 years ago next month, and I still remember furiously scribbling notes in every session.
Over the years, I graduated to advanced tracks, national conferences, workshops and seminars. But the biggest takeaway was never just the content. It was the camaraderie. The shared mindset that learning wasn’t separate from the work; it was the work. Every new idea could be tested, applied and refined. Looking back, those early investments not only sharpened my skills but also built my confidence and helped me find my place in the nonprofit sector.
And that lesson feels even more relevant today. Truly, when organizations invest in their people, especially early, they build stronger fundraisers and, ultimately, stronger mission impact. After all, nonprofits are fueled by passion and belief in a mission, in people, and in the possibility of change. Investing in your development team isn’t a luxury item to revisit “when there’s room in the budget.” It’s foundational.
Creating space for learning, experimentation and growth sends a powerful message: people matter here. Paired with that should be an abundance mindset. In nonprofit work, scarcity thinking comes easy, but abundance shifts the question from “What can we afford?” to “What will help our people thrive?”
Fundraisers especially carry a unique weight. They are relationship builders, storytellers, strategists and often the emotional bridge between mission and donor. They’re also among the most vulnerable to burnout and turnover. Professional development is one of the clearest ways organizations can change that trajectory.
A few truths consistently rise to the surface across the sector:
Fundraisers who receive ongoing professional development are far more likely to stay beyond the two-year mark.
Organizations that invest in training and coaching see stronger engagement, morale and team culture.
Mentorship and learning opportunities are among the top reasons fundraisers choose to stay at an organization.
Replacing a fundraiser can cost anywhere from 50 percent to 200 percent of their salary, making retention a financial strategy, not just a staffing concern.
Teams that feel supported in their growth build deeper donor relationships and more sustainable revenue over time.
Investment doesn’t always require a massive budget. Sometimes it looks like sending someone to a workshop, bringing in a coach or creating peer-learning spaces. Alternatively, local organizations or associations, like the Association of Fundraising Professionals, often offer scholarships for conference attendance or organizational membership. What matters most is consistency and intention.
When we invest in nonprofit teams, we’re doing more than improving performance metrics. We’re investing in the humans carrying the mission forward. And that’s where lasting impact begins.
If you’d like to explore ways to create meaningful professional development opportunities for your team, I’d love to connect.
Your partner in philanthropy,
Laura Hutyra
As President, Laura Hutyra is a results-driven leader focused on M. Gale team collaboration and operational goals across all of the company’s departments. Laura also serves as a consultant to help clients navigate organizational and fundraising solutions that maintain mission promises. She is a seasoned campaign fundraiser, with experience managing multi-million dollar campaigns.