Public relations and fundraising managers held about 81,200 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of public relations and fundraising managers were as follows:
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 21% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 20 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 15 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8 |
Public relations and fundraising managers usually work in offices during regular business hours. However, many must travel to deliver speeches and attend meetings and community activities.
They work in high-stress environments, often managing and organizing several events at the same time.
Work Schedules
Most public relations and fundraising managers work full time, which often includes long workdays. Some managers work more than 40 hours per week.
Public relations and fundraising managers need at least a bachelor’s degree, and some positions may require a master’s degree. Many years of related work experience are also necessary.
Education
For public relations and fundraising management positions, a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, English, fundraising, or journalism is generally required. However, some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master’s degree, particularly in public relations, journalism, fundraising, or nonprofit management.
Courses in advertising, business administration, public affairs, public speaking, and creative and technical writing can be helpful.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although not mandatory, public relations managers can become certified through the Public Relations Society of America . Candidates qualify based on a combination of experience and education and must pass an exam to become certified.
The Certified Fund Raising Executive program, offered by CFRE International , is also voluntary, but fundraisers who are awarded certification demonstrate a level of professional competency to prospective employers. To become certified, candidates must meet certain education, professional practice, and professional performance requirements, as well as pass an exam. Fundraisers must apply for renewal every 3 years to keep their certification valid.
The International Association of Business Communicators offers two credentials that allow communications specialists to demonstrate higher levels of knowledge and expertise. Public relations and fundraising managers may apply to take the certification exams when they have 6 to 8 years of experience in the communications field.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Public relations and fundraising managers must have several years of experience in a related occupation, such as public relations specialist or fundraiser.
Public relations managers typically have an interest in the Creating and Persuading interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Creating or Persuading interest which might fit with a career as a public relations manager, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Public relations managers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills. Managers deal with the public regularly; therefore, they must be friendly enough to build rapport and receive cooperation from their media contacts and donors.
Leadership skills. Public relations and fundraising managers often lead large teams of specialists or fundraisers and must be able to guide their activities.
Organizational skills. Public relations and fundraising managers are often in charge of running several events at the same time, requiring superior organizational skills.
Problem-solving skills. Managers sometimes must explain how the company or client is handling sensitive issues. They must use good judgment in what they report and how they report it.
Speaking skills. Public relations and fundraising managers regularly speak on behalf of their organization. When doing so, they must be able to explain the organization’s position clearly.
Writing skills. Managers must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases and speeches. They must be able to grasp the key messages they want to get across and write them succinctly in order to keep the attention of busy readers or listeners.
The median annual wage for public relations and fundraising managers was $116,180 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $64,790, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for public relations and fundraising managers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $133,480 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 131,560 |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 117,430 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 102,530 |
Most public relations and fundraising managers work full time, which often includes long workdays. Some managers work more than 40 hours per week.
Employment of public relations and fundraising managers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.
Organizations continue to emphasize community outreach and customer relations as a way to enhance their reputation and visibility. Public opinion can change quickly, particularly as social media increases the speed at which news travels. Consequently, public relations managers will be needed to coordinate and help respond to news developments to maintain their organization’s reputation.
Fundraising managers are expected to become increasingly important for organizations, such as colleges and universities, that depend heavily on donations. More nonprofit organizations are focusing on cultivating an online presence and are increasingly using social media for fundraising activities.
Job Prospects
About 7,800 openings for public relations and fundraising managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who exit the labor force, such as to retire, and from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations.
Prospective public relations managers should face strong competition at businesses that have large media exposure and at prestigious public relations firms.
Job prospects for fundraising managers should be best for those with a master’s degree in philanthropic studies or fundraising. These degree programs lead to experience in the industry, giving graduates an advantage over those who do not have such experience.
For more information about public relations and fundraising managers, including professional certification, visit
International Association of Business Communicators
Public Relations Society of America