The business case for Fundraising Apprenticeships

I’ve long suspected that the Voluntary Sector has been slow to embrace the potential of apprenticeships in general, and that fundraising leaders perhaps remain unaware of the opportunity they present.

Looking at the data made available by the Department of Education I can see that 201 learners are on the level 3 Fundraiser standard currently. That’s a pretty small proportion of the 339,580 level 3 apprenticeships that were started in England in the 2023/4 academic year.

So, why might charities be reluctant to engage with apprenticeships for their fundraising teams?

Is it cost?

It shouldn’t be. Larger charities with an annual salary bill of £3m or above won’t pay anything. Smaller charities contribute just 5% of the course cost, meaning it’s 15 months of focused training and support for just £400.

Is it a misunderstanding about vocational qualifications – or even stigma about apprenticeships?

Perhaps. Apprenticeships have changed enormously since many hiring managers were leaving school. They are offered at master’s degree level in a number of subjects and combine learning with delivery in the workplace.

Is it because HR teams only think about apprenticeships for new starters?

Possibly. In our apprenticeships we have a real mix of people: some are skilling up, others are moving into fundraising from other parts of the organisation or transitioning from other careers, as well as new hires.

Is it because people think their organisation will lose crucial staff capacity on the one day a week that their fundraiser is working on their apprenticeship?

I wonder if it might be…. If this is a concern for people considering an apprenticeship for a team member, I need to tell you that time spent putting the learning into practice with guidance from an expert delivery team of Tutors and Skills Coach is the rocket fuel for staff development! This is the secret sauce of apprenticeships!

Everything your learner does relates to their working environment. Their critical thinking around issues relevant to their role is grounded in the reality of their work with colleagues, donors and service users. Fundraisers on the course tell us that they gain a confidence in using tools, techniques and analysis by applying their learning directly – and often this has a wider impact on those teams which are receptive to sharing and learning by extension.

I wrote a short blog a couple of years ago, giving my views on the value of apprenticeships to the fundraising sector generally. I’m more convinced than ever that this course supports significant development in fundraisers who engage in the process, because this is what learners and employers are feeding back to us.

Fundraiser Apprenticeship Level 3

Take a look at the course – and give me a nudge if you want to know more.