Mike’s Monday Message: 25 Years of AFP’s Compensation and Benefits Survey
This year, AFP’s annual Compensation and Benefits Survey hits an important milestone—25 years as the fundraising sector’s comprehensive resource for understanding salary trends, benefits, and workplace practices.
So much has changed since the first publication of this report in 2000. For starters, some of the employees now joining our workforce weren’t even born when the first report came out. As we evolve this survey to capture the current realities of our profession, we need those Gen Z voices. We need to hear from everyone, from across all job levels, generations, causes, geographical regions, and racial and gender identities. The more participants we have, the more accurate, actionable, and representative this report will be in advocating for fair compensation and robust benefits.
Last year’s report included some important examples of the ways in which our work environment is changing. Since the pandemic, there has been more emphasis than ever on work/life balance (hmmmm … why is it called work/life balance and not life/work balance?), remote or hybrid work environments, and nontraditional perks, such as parking/transportation subsidies or extra mental health days. Nonprofits are looking at compensation more holistically as the way we work evolves and who makes up our workforce changes. This year’s survey reflects those shifts, as well as a few additional updates to help us better understand emerging trends:
- Employer Contributions to Benefits: We’re reframing questions to better understand employer contributions to benefits like medical insurance. For example, does your employer cover 100% of your medical insurance, a portion of it, or simply offer access without contributing?
- Bonus Structures: We’re revisiting and refining questions about how bonuses are structured for fundraisers. We’ll explore the metrics used to calculate bonuses, such as individual versus department goals, and whether they are based on a percentage of salary or a set bonus amount. As an aside, there are also robust discussions re the budgeting of bonuses – to budget or not to budget in advance, that is the question (so many factors affecting that decision).
If you have not yet completed the 2025 survey, U.S and Canadian members can use the links below to submit their response. Make sure to include your name and email at the end of the survey so we can remove you from future email reminders. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, February 14.
- U.S. Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QSVHNPW
- Canada Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QR7WD3G
Together, with your participation, we can use this report to:
- Empower Fundraisers: By providing comprehensive data on compensation and benefits, we equip fundraisers with the tools needed to advocate for equitable pay and better workplace support.
- Strengthen Our Profession: The results of this survey are used by fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and boards to benchmark salaries and benefits, ensuring our field remains competitive and sustainable.
- Drive Positive Change: When you share your experiences, you contribute to a broader understanding of what’s working in our profession—and where there’s room for improvement. This information is key to building better workplaces for all of us.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to contribute to this critical initiative.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email at Mike.Geiger@afpglobal.org or on X at @AFPMikeGeiger. I’d love to hear from you.