Salaries Hold Steady but Fall Slightly in Median for Fundraisers in Canada: Insights from AFP’s Compensation and Benefits Survey

FRANÇAIS

Salaries for fundraisers in Canada held relatively steady in 2024, with little change in average pay, but a slight decline in the median pay level, according to findings from the 2025 AFP Compensation and Benefits Report. 

The average salary for fundraisers in Canada in 2024 was $98,376, a marginal decrease of 0.1% from $98,487 in 2023. However, the median salary—a better indicator of what most fundraisers earn—fell 3%, from $90,000 to $87,275. This suggests that while high salaries helped hold up the average, mid-level earners may have experienced some downward pressure on pay.

It is important to note, however, that these results are based on approximately 300 responses collected from fundraising professionals in Canada, and may not be representative of the broader sector. 

Another factor that could potentially contribute to the decline in the median but consistent average, is the leadership-heavy sample. 11% were CEOs, 28% were chief development officers, and 24% were gift officers handling major, planned, or corporate/foundation gifts. These senior-level roles tend to command higher salaries, which can skew the average upward even if the majority of fundraisers, particularly those in mid-level or early-career positions, are earning less.

Gender Pay Parity and the Realities Behind It

Interestingly, the gender pay gap in Canada favoured women slightly in this year’s data with women reporting an average salary of $98,168, while men reported an average salary of $97,412. This is in contrast to the U.S. where the average salary of male fundraisers was $110,753 while women were paid an average of $93,792—a pay gap of around 18%. 

This may be partially attributed to the fact that women made up a significant majority of the survey respondents—83% were women, while only 17% were men—limiting the sample size for male salaries. 

Time taken off work for caregiving or personal health reasons also varied significantly by gender. Among respondents:

• 10.1% of women took time off to raise children, compared with 0.9% of men
• 5.1% of women cared for family members, versus 0.5% of men
• 12.4% of women took time for personal health, compared with 1.4% of men

Strong Benefits and Competitive Perks

Fundraisers in Canada enjoy strong benefits coverage, especially compared to their U.S. counterparts:

• 97% reported receiving health insurance or cost reimbursement
• 94.9% had dental coverage
• 88.9% had vision insurance
• 91.4% had options for dependent coverage
• 58% were offered flexible spending accounts (vs. 32% in the U.S.)
• 70% received a cell phone or plan allowance (vs. 43% in the U.S.)

Only 3.2% of respondents from Canada reported receiving no health benefits.

In terms of retirement support:

• 89% reported access to a retirement plan
• 42% had a defined benefit pension plan
• 37% reported their employer has a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)

These offerings remained stable in 2024, with only 13% of respondents noting an increase in employer contributions.

Other common perks included laptop computers (reported by more than three-quarters of respondents) and a small portion (5.8%) receiving childcare support.

Bonuses and Paid Time Off

Bonus compensation was reported by 15.5% of respondents, with a median bonus of $6,731.

• 43% tied bonuses to organizational or departmental goals
• 11% linked them to individual performance
• 46% were unsure how bonuses were calculated or noted other methods

On the time-off front:

• Respondents received an average of 20.7 vacation days (excluding holidays)
• The median number of paid holidays was 9, slightly below the federal standard of 10

Many also reported additional days such as wellness or mental health days, summer Fridays, or comp time.

Certification and Supervision

• 27% of respondents in Canada held a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential.
• 58% reported to a woman supervisor, 23% to a man, and 13% to a board—consistent with prior years and with U.S. data.

Job Stability and Outlook

Only 58.5% of fundraisers in Canada reported plans to remain at their current organization compared to 75.9% of their American counterparts. These numbers may indicate rising levels of job dissatisfaction and burnout, which has proven to be a consistent concern in the nonprofit industry, or, more positively, desire for career growth. 

Looking ahead:

• 76% of fundraisers in Canada expect a salary increase in 2025
• Around 24% expect no change
• Just 1% anticipate a decrease

Geographic and Demographic Notes

• Compensation was highest in Ontario, followed by British Columbia and Alberta.
• 15.4% of participants identified as a race or ethnicity other than white/Caucasian. However, the response rate was too low to enable salary comparisons for “visible minorities” as defined by Statistics Canada.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 AFP Compensation and Benefits Report provides a useful snapshot of compensation trends, benefits, and workplace experiences for fundraisers in Canada. While salaries remained relatively stable overall, the dip in median pay, lower reported job retention, and gendered differences in time away from work point to ongoing challenges within the profession.

At the same time, strong benefits, retirement offerings, and expectations of future salary increases suggest resilience in the sector.

Still, these findings should be interpreted with care. The results are based on a relatively small sample—about 300 respondents—which may not fully represent the diversity or complexity of fundraising work across the country.

Taken together, the data signals a profession that is navigating change. As the fundraising landscape continues to evolve, so too must the conversations around compensation, equity, and long-term sustainability for those who power the missions of charitable organizations.