Scottish fundraisers 'earn less but are offered better benefits'

By Hannah Jordan, Third Sector, 20 August 2008

Scottish charities are offering fundraisers more creative salary packages than the third sector elsewhere in the UK, according to the first survey of fundraising salaries north of the border.

Initial responses to the study, conducted by specialist fundraising recruitment firm Bruce Tait Associates, show many Scottish charities offer 'salary sacrifice' incentives, whereby employees take lower salaries in return for benefits such as childcare, relocation expenses, free bike loans and pension schemes.

"All these go a long way to attracting and, crucially, retaining key fundraising staff," said Bruce Tait, managing director of BTA. "As it becomes harder to recruit fundraisers in Scotland, charities here are having to be more creative in what they offer staff in terms of quality of life."

The survey was sent to 400 organisations, of which 110 have responded so far. Indications are that fundraisers in Scotland earn about £4,000 a year less than equivalent workers in the public and private sectors and on average 10 per cent less than fundraisers in England.

Tait launched the study after finding many organisations in Scotland were confused about what they should be paying fundraisers. He said charities in Scotland found it difficult to set up accurate pay scales for fundraisers because of a lack of information, particularly at entry level.

"I have to look online or in the papers to get an idea of what is being offered, but because titles vary it can be very confusing," said Deirdre Barclay, human resources manager at participating charity Poppyscotland. "It would do no harm to have a benchmark."

Tait will present a final analysis of the survey results at a seminar hosted by Poppyscotland on 12 September. "We want to get people talking to give them a better idea of salary structures," he said.

He added that there were other issues to consider, such as whether charities should subsidise employees in the Scottish capital with an 'Edinburgh weighting'.

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