New Year, new tactics: Is it time to hire outside of the third sector?

In our ‘how to recruit and retain fundraising talent’ blog post, we talk about the fundraising sector’s recruitment and retention crisis - and how the combined effects of pandemic stress, burnout and low pay have led fundraisers to quit their jobs (and the charity sector) in droves …

As the calendar flips to 2023, we’d love to say the market has stabilised, but sadly, that’s not the case.

Despite the abundance of fundraising roles (job vacancies in the sector are equal to, or even above pre-pandemic levels), candidate numbers are on the decline, and charities are finding it increasingly difficult to fill vacancies. According to research by The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, as many as 53% of charities are struggling to recruit fundraisers.

In addition, a recent report by the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy found that 30% of fundraisers are planning to leave the sector in the next two years.

The stats may paint a gloomy picture, but, as Benjamin Franklin once famously said, “out of adversity comes opportunity”.

In our view, the fundraising recruitment crisis presents charities with a golden opportunity to innovate, by bringing in fresh talent, skills, and experience from outside the sector. Read on to find out why.

Glass half full

At Bamboo, we’re seeing fundraisers (particularly in business development, consultancy, and contract management roles) move into industries such as banking and construction, where they’re seen as a valuable commodity. After all, they’re used to bidding for complex, multi-million contracts, and have lots of other vital transferable skills.

However, on the flip side, there are plenty of burnt-out corporate sector workers (also with valuable transferable skills such as teamwork, project management and time management), looking to build meaningful careers in the third sector, yet many are unable to land a job due to a lack of third sector experience. Chicken-egg anyone?

Historically, hiring managers have been cautious about taking a gamble on non-third-sector workers, for fear of them becoming disillusioned and leaving.

One of the main concerns cited by charity recruiters in a survey by charityjob was risk aversion: “Constitutionally, charities have to be risk averse. We’re more cautious than corporates, which can be a hard adjustment for people moving over from the private sector. Getting used to strapped resources can be a problem.”

Considering the average cost of replacing an employee is 117% of their annual salary, the concerns of hiring from the corporate sector are understandable. But in the current climate, surely, it’s a bigger gamble not to consider doing so?

Final Word

If you’re struggling to fill your fundraising vacancies and are open to kicking off 2023 with a new recruitment strategy, give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk