U.S. Fundraising Salaries Show Stability as Median Pay Outpaces Inflation, According to 2025 AFP Compensation & Benefits Report

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy’s 2025 Compensation and Benefits Report reveals a continued stabilization in U.S. fundraising salaries, with notable trends in pay equity, benefits, and workforce longevity.

In 2024, the average fundraising salary in the United States experienced a slight decrease of 0.2%, continuing the relative plateau seen in 2023 when salaries increased by 0.8%. The average salary fell from $96,621 in 2023 to $96,449 in 2024. However, median salaries tell a different story—rising from $83,000 to $87,672, a 5.6% increase that surpassed the 2.9% inflation rate recorded between December 2023 and December 2024.

“While average salaries show signs of stabilization, the increase in median salary reflects promising growth for many fundraising professionals, even amid a complex economic environment,” said Ann Hale, CFRE, Executive Vice President for AFP Foundations for Philanthropy.

The report also highlights workforce dynamics, revealing that nearly one-third of fundraising professionals stay in a role for less than three years, while nearly half remain with an organization for more than five years, suggesting varied career trajectories within the sector.

Mixed Progress on Pay Equity and Inclusion
The gender pay gap narrowed from 20% to 18%, with women earning an average salary of $93,792 compared to $110,753 for men. Median salaries also showed improvement, with women earning $88,300—a notable increase from 2023—while men's median salary decreased to $99,900. This represents a 13% median pay gap, down significantly from the 25% gap reported in 2023.

Despite these positive trends, the findings highlight the continued need to advance equity and improve representation within the fundraising profession.

Enhanced Analysis of Benefits
A major addition to this year’s report is a deeper analysis of employee benefits, particularly health insurance and retirement offerings. More than 96% of U.S. respondents reported having access to employer-provided health insurance. Of those, 21% said their employer covered the entire premium, while 74% utilized a shared cost model between employer and employee. The report also explores options available for employees to purchase additional benefits through their employer.

Commitment to the Profession
Despite salary fluctuations, the fundraising sector remains resilient. Fewer than one in five respondents reported actively seeking alternative employment, signaling a strong commitment to the profession.

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy provides this research exclusively to AFP members, who can access the full 2025 Compensation and Benefits Study for comprehensive insights and detailed analysis.

About the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy
The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy’s mission is to advance philanthropic investment and impact in the nonprofit sector.

We accomplish this by:

• Serving as a catalyst for the nonprofit sector to address the sector’s greatest issues
• Acting as a convener between the professional fundraiser and the philanthropist to solve society’s most-pressing challenges
• Conducting and supporting in-depth research leading to strategic insights and innovative thinking in philanthropy

More information about the foundation can be found at www.afpglobal.org/USFoundation.