How to start your career in the charity sector

Working in the charity sector is the dream career for many graduates. It’s particularly appealing to grads looking for a socially conscious role. Plus, it’s a good fit for those searching for a more flexible work-life balance than you might find in the private sector.

We’re here to help you find the right job to apply for and create an impressive application. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of working in charities, including the roles available, what you can expect to earn, the skills you need to thrive and tips to start your career.

We’ll cover:

• The benefits of working in the charity and not-for-profit sector
• What jobs there are
• How to get work experience
• How to find jobs in charity
• What you could earn
• Is a career in the charity sector right for you?
• Application tips

If you're considering working in the charity sector, you probably know that it isn’t about the money – non-profit salaries tend to be lower than those in the private sector.

However, there are two main benefits to working in a non-profit organisation or for a charity. Firstly, if you work for a cause that you believe in, you’ll feel that you’re making a positive difference – and you can't underestimate the importance of long-term career motivation. Because of this, working in non-profits can be rewarding.

Secondly, depending on the exact role, charities typically offer more flexibility in working hours and job-sharing opportunities – great if you’ve got outside interests or family commitments.

Because the sector is so vast, there’s a huge range of charity jobs in different areas including finance, logistics and media. There are also specialist roles for those with certain degrees, such as surveyors and engineers.

If you’re not a specialist, your first grad job will usually be an assistant role (ie. marketing assistant, fundraising assistant, operations assistant, etc.). In smaller charities, your job title might be officer or manager from the get-go. The smaller your organisation, the more likely you’ll have to pitch in wherever you’re needed so be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get involved.

Jobs in charity include roles in areas like:

• Management
• Administration
• Marketing
• Policy development
• Fundraising

To learn about these sub-sectors and other opportunities, read our guide about the different types of roles within the charity sector.

Volunteering for charity is a great way of gaining relevant experience and giving your CV a boost – whatever sector you go on to work in.

Plus, if you volunteer for a charity you’d like to work for, you’ll have a better chance of finding out about paid roles that aren’t widely advertised.

Some larger charities offer internship and work experience placements. Here, you’ll gain insights into the running of the charity, which you won’t usually get as a regular volunteer.

Most charity work placements will be unpaid, so you’ll need another way to support yourself. Look out for roles that’ll fit alongside your studies or part-time work. To get ahead, regularly check back on our list of application deadlines for internships in the public sector and charity.

Can’t get hired? Hire yourself! Running your own fundraising event will give you valuable experience, especially if you want to go into event planning, fundraising or volunteer management. Putting fundraising experience on a job application will show your drive, enthusiasm and commitment. If you’re part of a university society, you could start by hosting an event for the club.

Many grads start their charity sector careers by applying for an entry-level role. Experience is an advantage, but not a necessity. So, it’s OK if you’ve never volunteered for a similar cause. It’s more important that you’ve got the right transferable skills and are willing to tackle your new role with enthusiasm.

You’ll find charity jobs across employment sites, including our graduate jobs and schemes listings. However, small charities are unlikely to advertise as widely. If you want to work for a certain organisation, keep an eye on their website and social media for job adverts. If there aren’t any ads for roles within your favourite charities, there’s no harm in sending out speculative emails to express your interest in working for them. Even if there isn’t a paid role available at that time, they might offer you a volunteer position.

Some larger charities run paid graduate training programmes. There’s also the Charityworks programme, which collaborates with various charities to train talented candidates. However, paid grad schemes are rarer in the not-for-profit sector than the private sector.

Want to find out more? Read our guide to social enterprise and charity graduate schemes.

How much you’ll earn in the charity sector will depend on your role and the organisation you work for. As the non-profit sector is so varied, it’s hard to generalise average earnings across the industry. Roles like charity shop managers, marketing assistants and researchers will all receive different salaries.

However, the National Careers Service advises that charity fundraisers in 2025 typically earn between £23,000 (as a starter salary) and £36,000 (once experienced).

If you want to know what you’d earn in a particular role, it’s worth finding out the pay range for that job in the private sector. Typically, equivalent roles in charities will have lower salaries but it varies from employer to employer.

Discover more about what your potential earnings could be in the charity sector.

Only you will know if working in the charity sector or for a non-profit organisation is right for you.

The charity sector tends to attract people who are committed and motivated, and whose values include wanting to make a difference. Does that sound like you? If so, it’s definitely worth considering a career in charity.

Charity and non-profit employers look for candidates with the following skills:

• Flexibility and innovation
• Multitasking abilities
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication
• Negotiation
• Organisational skills
• Teamworking
• Positivity

If you’ve got the above skills, you’ve got a great chance of landing a charity or non-profit role. It’s up to you to decide whether it’s something you’re interested in. By reading guides like this, we know you’re serious about research so you’re making the right moves – whether you decide to pursue charity work or change focus towards another sector.

Learn more about the skills and qualities you need to excel in the charity sector. It’s one way of seeing how well you’ll suit the industry. Don’t have all the know-how already? Don’t worry, we’ve got lots of advice on what skills you’ll need and how to grow them – whatever your chosen sector.

Applying for a charity or non-profit job is just like applying for a role in the private sector. You need to do the same things to secure the job. A big part of this involves acing your CV and cover letter.

As with any job application, research is key if you want to impress. You need to show that you understand the charity’s mission and how it operates. For example, if you’re applying to be a fundraising assistant, mention the charity’s past and upcoming events in your interview. It’ll also be worth looking up fundraising events for comparable charities so that you’re fully informed.

Also, try to focus your applications on charities you believe in. It’s hard to fake enthusiasm in an interview – and even harder to work in a role – if you don’t feel motivated by what you’re doing.

Believing in the cause will also make it easier to accept that you’ll need to work your way up. If you’re dreaming of a senior role, always remember to show interest in the entry-level job and not just your end goal of a higher position.

It's also important that you show what you’ll bring to the role. What unique qualities do you have? What skills will help you start right away? Charities tend to be very collaborative, so it’s good to show that you’re willing to be flexible and lend a hand. As always, pay close attention to the job ad specification. What evidence can you share that shows that you tick the boxes? Whatever it is, make sure you communicate it via your CV, cover letter and interview responses.

Brush up on our seven ways to make your job application stand out and you’ll edge closer towards starting your charity career.

Working for charities and non-profit organisations is popular with grads. As charity sector careers can be very rewarding, it's easy to see why. Plus, there are lots of varied roles to explore (including marketing, fundraising and policy development). Because of the variety, the sector suits grads from all academic backgrounds.

Whether the charity sector is right for you will depend on what you’re looking for in a job. However, if you’re keen to make a difference and have the right transferable skills, it might be your perfect career.

Taking on work experience is a fantastic way of building your skills and finding out if the sector will suit you.

If you like the sound of a charity sector career, follow our job application tips and give yourself the best chance of securing that dream role. Good luck!