I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve heard someone say, “Well, the average fundraiser (fill in the blank for other titles) only stays about 18 months.”
Every time, I have to stop myself from challenging it on the spot. Sure, it might be true that people move around more these days — but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. Or that we should accept it as normal.
Here’s how I think about it.
1. It depends where you are in your career.
Early on, we all explore. In our 20s, it’s normal to test different roles, learn what kind of organization fits, and figure out what motivates us. But as you grow in seniority, both in experience and title, the bar changes. Strategy takes time. Leadership takes time. Relationships — especially in fundraising — take time. You simply can’t build trust and results in 18 months.
2. Sometimes it doesn’t work out — and that’s okay.
We’ve all had jobs that looked great on paper but weren’t the right fit. It happens. But if short stints become a pattern, especially later in your career, it’s worth asking why. Are you choosing the right roles? Are you giving each opportunity enough time to make an impact?
3. Retention is everyone’s responsibility.
When someone we place leaves before the three-year mark, I rarely see that as a success — for the individual or the organization. It simply takes that long to truly embed, build donor relationships, and deliver results.
Organizations have to take some ownership, too. It’s not enough to shrug and say “18 months is the norm.” We can understand what people need and create environments that make them want to stay. And staff can use the hiring process to really learn whether the culture and leadership are a fit.
In the charity sector especially, success depends on commitment, relationships, and continuity. The best organizations — and the happiest professionals — are those who stay long enough to make something real.
Maybe it’s time we stop normalizing 18 months and start talking about what staying looks like instead.
