Fundraisers in Switzerland – Stable Salary, Meaningful Work, but Often Invisible
Fundraisers in Switzerland often get into this type of work by chance or through other non-profit roles. They value the meaningfulness and charitable purpose of their work. They earn an average of CHF 104,400 per year in a full-time position. However, they are less positive about their image and the public understanding of the profession. This is revealed in the Study “Profile: Professional Fundraisers 2025” – a new study published by ZHAW and Swissfundraising.
Fundraisers value the meaningfulness and charitable purpose of their work as well as identifying with the organization they serve. Nevertheless, they have a less positive perception of their reputation and the social esteem in which the public holds them. In this study, ZHAW and Swissfundraising (the umbrella organization of professional fundraisers) conducted an analysis of the job profile through a survey of fundraisers.
Stable salary but no positive trend
The median gross annual salary for fundraisers in Switzerland is CHF 104,400. Compared to previous years, there has been a constant level of stability, but no upward trend has emerged since 2013.
"It is positive to emphasize that there is no wage discrimination per se; the observed gender pay gap is the result of different job profiles."
Fabienne Schmidli, Responsible for the ZHAW study
Taking into account age, professional experience, and function level, male fundraisers do not earn significantly more than female fundraisers. However, male fundraisers in the sample tend to be somewhat older, have slightly more professional experience on average, are responsible for twice as much budget, and manage almost three times as many employees. However, there are regional differences: The large areas of Eastern Switzerland, Espace Mittelland (around Bern), and Zurich pay better than organizations in Northwestern Switzerland. Organizations in the fields of health and education pay relatively high wages, whereas those in environmental protection and culture often pay relatively low wages.
A profession with potential
Many fundraisers enter the profession by chance – usually through other activities in the non-profit sector, with 63 percent rating their career opportunities as good or very good. The results of the study are also confirmed by experience gained in fundraising training, says Prof. Leticia Labaronne, Head of the Center for Arts Management at ZHAW and Head of Program for the Master of Advanced Studies in Fundraising Management.
"A conscious career choice is rare at a young age and tends to happen by chance. Fundraising is a typical field for career changers, often associated with the desire for a more meaningful profession. At the same time, we are seeing an increasing number of students who are specifically seeking further fundraising training after completing their first degree."
Prof. Leticia Labaronne, Head of the Center for Arts Management at ZHAW and Head of Program for the Master of Advanced Studies in Fundraising Management
The study also identifies two types of fundraisers: Generalists, usually men in management positions with a marketing background, and specialists, often with specific training and a focus on institutional fundraising. Despite these different profiles, the salaries of both groups are comparable.
Future prospects in fundraising
Digitalization, an increasingly competitive donation market, the ever-increasing pressure to generate donations, and changes in the donation market due to new generations and artificial intelligence are considered to be significant factors influencing the future professional profile of fundraisers. Both "digitalization in general" and "changes due to AI" are developments viewed as positive or very positive by the majority of respondents. In their opinion, social and communication skills as well as personal skills will be key to successful fundraising in the future – even more so than specialist knowledge.
"The study clearly shows us that, in the eyes of fundraisers in Switzerland, public perception of their profession is diffuse, and appreciation is limited. I see this as a mandate for us as an association to work on sharpening the profile of the role and promoting greater awareness of the fundraising profession and its reputation in Switzerland. We need to develop a clear self-image as fundraisers and communicate this to the outside world with a coherent narrative."
Hanspeter Bigler, President of Swissfundraising
Profile: Professional Fundraisers 2025
For the fourth time since 2013, the Center for Arts Management at the ZHAW School of Management and Law, in collaboration with Swissfundraising, has examined the employment and salary situation of fundraisers. The study is the first nationwide survey to analyze the fundraising profession in terms of future developments and trends, encompassing not only members of Swissfundraising, but also fundraisers in Switzerland in general. The empirical quantitative survey was conducted as an online survey from June to October 2024. A total of 427 individuals took part in the survey.
Contact
- Fabienne Schmidli, Center for Arts Management, ZHAW School of Management and Law, phone +41 (0)58 934 41 58, email fabienne.schmidli@zhaw.ch
- Valerie Hosp, Communications, ZHAW School of Management and Law, phone +41 (0)58 934 40 68, email valerie.hosp@zhaw.ch