Working In Australia: Face-To-Face Fundraising

One of the leading face-to-face fundraising agencies in Australia, The Fundraising People can help Working Holiday Visa holders earn good money and valuable experiences while working in Australia. Here, we talk to Leila Rachidi about the ins and outs of working for The Fundraising People, and how it can help you fund your travels.
Why does face-to-face fundraising work suit working holiday makers or people who are looking for temp work?
Since we started in 2008, we’ve had team members coming from all corners of the globe. Today, about 80% of our fundraisers are travellers who came to discover Australia and its treasures. Travellers love this job because it is paid a base wage (no commission-only structure) and uncapped bonus allowing them to live well in their chosen location. Also, travelling around Australia can be very expensive, so we offer Travel Trips to our Difference Makers. They travel for a week or so, accommodation and travel costs 100% covered by us. They work weekdays 9-5, and explore Australia the rest of the time!
We require a 3-month minimum commitment, which is usually the time a traveller wants to spend in a particular location before taking off again. We work with world-renowned charities, so making the trip to Australia worthwhile by making a difference in the world is awesome.
Finally, you meet friends for life, discover new cultures, languages, participate in social events, win prizes on a weekly basis and above all – have fun!
What skills do you need for Fundraising work?
You need a great smile and sense of humour, positive energy, grit, and passion for people and charity.
Does all fundraising work involve raising money on the streets?
We have 3 types of fundraising depending on the city you are in: street fundraising, shopping centres fundraising and door-to-door. All 3 are very popular and our teams love it because you get to work every day in a different location, it could be in the heart of the CBD, on the coast or in the mountains!
What kind of roles do you have available?
We review our recruitment weekly due to the fact that our teams are mainly composed of Working Holiday Visa holders. Certain weeks we will have limited availabilities while other weeks we could be creating a whole new team. That is why we always have our Recruitment Team ready to chat with anyone interested and work out a plan together.
How much can a face-to-face fundraiser realistically expect to take home?
In Australia, the wages vary depending on your age. If you are 21 or over, you will expect $21.61 per hour on a base wage. You can earn more if you are good at what you do. We pay competitive bonuses to any of our team members who achieve great results.
Do you get to travel much with the job?
On average you would expect to travel once a month. You could be going to Perth, Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Byron Bay, Tasmania… the length of the trip varies from 1 week to 4 weeks for our roaming teams willing to travel for long periods of time. If you are not part of the roaming team, you are usually offered to travel once a month for a period of a week (sometimes 2 weeks depending on distance).

Are there opportunities for career progression?
Plenty! We are very lucky to have a great existing team and with the demand from our charity partners increasing, so are our teams. From being a Fundraiser, you can expect to become a Team Leader within 2/3 months managing a team of 3 people. Next comes the Senior Team Leader role at the 6 months mark. Then you work your way up to Campaign Field Manager (sponsorship available at this level). We also offer internship programs for those interested in an office role, and have an office in New Zealand for anyone interested in travelling there!
Why do you work in the industry?
I work in the industry because it is a rare opportunity to work and make a difference every day. It is rare to be able to work with people who, fresh from their travels, bring you this positive energy and great perspective on life. Also because I truly identify with the values of this company which are Fairness, Integrity Efficiency, Family, and Charity.
Is there a good work life balance?
You are the only one who can find that balance. We give you the tools you need: a base wage, a group of people here to support you, a bunch of social and work events that you can attend, travels so you can discover Australia for free and a great opportunity to leave your mark on the world.
You work from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and have your weekends free to enjoy yourself!
Why should anyone reading this consider working in the industry?
It is a once in a lifetime experience – you just have to check out our website testimonials to see that. You might not like it or you might love it! I started as an intern, on a Working Holiday Visa from France, not knowing much English. I am now the Head of Recruitment and Social Media at our Sydney Head Office. If you don’t grab the opportunity, others will and you might miss what could have been the best thing you could have done during your travel. And it is an Industry that has a lot to offer so take a chance and see where it takes you!
What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard of happening from a F2F employee?
The funniest thing… Wow, there are so many stories to tell! I recall that once a lady approached our Fundraisers and had a quick chat with them about the charity. After a few minutes, the lady asked the Fundraisers if they could keep her dog whilst she walked quickly to the shops. They kindly accepted since it was only for short period of time. Little did they know that the lady left to go shopping for the whole afternoon and returned 4 hours later satisfied from her shopping spree!
Find out more about The Fundraising People here >>>