Dreaming of becoming a Development Officer

Fundraising is the process of gathering funds or other resources required for a company to operate. Development officers are responsible for this activity. They work with government organizations, individuals, businesses and charities and request funds be donated or loaned to the company they work with. Fundraising is performed by profit and non-profit companies to collect money to continue daily operations.

Development officers communicate with donors on a regular basis. They prepare and present grant proposals. These individuals work with the board of directors and show active involvement in fundraising projects. Development officers also maintain and update the company's fundraising database. Development officers develop plans to attract target audiences for fundraising events. Besides looking for new policies, they must expand existing fundraising activities for the benefit of the organization they are employed with.

The following are the responsibilities of a development officer:

• A development officer formulates annual plans and strategies for development.
• Lead other staff members to help with fundraising and marketing efforts.
• Build new relationships and enhance existing relationships with clients and sponsors.
• Must actively participate in projects and perform other duties as assigned by higher management officials.
• He or she is responsible for maintaining records of all past and current approaches to finding outside funding sources, so no conflicts arise afterwards.
• The development officer must find out new donors and funding sources.
• The individuals who hold this position arrange meetings with the board of directors and executive directors.

For a person to have a successful career as a development officer, following skills are important.

• Must be capable of handling several tasks at the same time.
• Flexible enough to adjust to any work schedule to meet work deadlines.
• Must be comfortable working with computers and databases.
• Must be a strong team player.
• Must possess strong oral and written communication skills because he or she interacts with many people.
• Must be able to receive, understand and explain collected data to other members of the company.
• Must be an influential person and must have convincing abilities.
• Good problem solving skills and partnership building skills are vital for success in this career.
• Since this job requires travel to meet with people of other organizations, the person must be open to travel.
• Good time management skills are a must.
• Development officers must possess a thorough knowledge of administrative skills.

A Bachelor's degree is a must to obtain an entry level position as a development officer. Some companies choose candidates who have a minimum experience of 2 years. Although this field is open for all graduates, knowledge on subjects such as business, psychology, human resources and IT are an additional advantage and will strengthen your chances for job placement.

The average salary of development officers is approximately $60,000-$80,000. A development officer's job is highly reputed in the market and has a very good pay scale. The pay varies according to the experience of the candidate and educational qualifications.

Since the market has a need for development officers, this can be a rewarding career for you. There are requirements to be fulfilled but be confident jobs are available in this field. Enjoy a high paying career as a development officer. Not only will you help yourself earn money, you'll help companies find money as well.