This in-depth salary survey from 2019 reflects the current salary trends for resource development professionals in Israel. This survey contains other valuable information about the field as well, so it is worth checking out.

Please note: According to the principles adopted by the Israel Association of Fundraising Professionals, it is unethical to receive a commission or percentages for fundraising services.

Note for Grant Writers:

Grant writing is a growing field with flexible options, and writers can usually work either in salaried positions or as freelance consultants. Pay is highly dependent on the size and stability of the organization; in large organizations, you are paid more competitively. Freelance hourly wages are usually higher than salaried wages but being on payroll has other long-term financial advantages. Make sure you speak with an Israeli accountant before deciding to become self-employed. For more information, see here.

Bear in mind that the spoken language at most non-profits is Hebrew. Grant writers in Israel are usually required to read, translate and adapt written materials in Hebrew, and to communicate with Hebrew-speaking staff to obtain accurate information. Furthermore, Israeli amutot often require someone to prepare Hebrew proposals and reports for government offices, so Hebrew language skills are a big plus when applying for a grant writing job. Nevertheless, employers sometimes overlook weak Hebrew skills in order to gain an employee who they think will be a good writer or fundraiser. In general, the only grant writing positions that do not require conversational Hebrew are in the large organizations which employ both English and Hebrew grant writers.

Interview with Mara Schecter, Senior Consultant at Atlas Resource Development

What is your current position?

I’m a Senior Consultant providing resource development, grant-writing services and strategic consultation for clients of Atlas, Israel’s largest hi-tech consulting firm for non-profits in Israel. The company provides organizations with digital based solutions and other resource development services. Like many people in Israel, I have another job as well: I am a District Coordinator for the Prevention of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Trauma in Misrad Habriut (Israel’s Ministry of Health). Each job is about half time.

How did you find your job?
Networking!! A friend of mine knew that I was looking for another source of income in addition to my part-time job at Misrad Habriut which I started soon after I moved to Israel. She had seen a posting for an account management job at a resource development firm in Jerusalem, and she suggested I call the hiring manager (who she happened to know) and ask for a meeting. Since I had been the director of a major social service agency in NY, I had grant writing experience, having brought in and managed large grants for my programs. However, I definitely was not a conventional candidate for this type of job which usually requires a few years of professional grant writing experience. Her advice paid off! The CEO of the firm realized that both my writing and managerial skills in addition to my strong background in social services were an asset. Seven years later the company was bought by Atlas and hiring me was part of the deal.

What types of backgrounds are relevant for someone looking to break into resource development?

You don’t have to be a fundraiser. Anyone with a background in business, marketing, management, social work, programming, and education could be a good fit.

There are 2 key issues:

1. It’s good to be well -versed in terms of the social arena– what’s going around in Israel and the world around you, because you need to know the social trends and how to frame them.
2. You must have good writing skills. While you should be able to present the larger picture and the need for the overall program you are proposing, make sure to pay attention to the smaller details as well, especially those that align with the donor’s strategic vision. Not to mention spelling, grammar, and other formatting issues.

What education and experience should an Oleh looking to go into this field come with? Any background from social services, education, psychology, marketing, business and management is helpful. A grant writer needs to be able to understand and discuss social services but also to understand how to market programs to a potential donor.

Is there any kind of license or certification you need, to work in fundraising in Israel? No.

How important is Hebrew in your field?

Very important! You need Hebrew because you will need to liaison and get information from non-English speakers who are running the programs, and possibly Hebrew materials you need to review. Furthermore, while in the past most funding sources were from North America, because of the changing global economic situation you may be more likely to be asked to apply to Israeli foundations. While some lucky grant writers are exclusively tasked with writing proposals to North American and other Anglo funding sources, most of my professional colleagues speak at least conversational Hebrew.

What are the benefits of your job? What do you like about it?

Firstly, I rarely take work worries home with me. There usually isn’t drama; it’s a clean type of work in that it is skilled, and task based. Unlike social workers and educators, grant writers don’t carry an emotional load, although within an organization, those responsible for resource development can experience more pressure. As a consultant, I have less of this, aside from the high professional standard I have for myself.

Second, I feel lucky that I am putting my inherent skills to use. While grant writers and fundraisers have a huge part in creating important programs and initiatives, we don’t have the pressure to manage them from the programming end.

In addition, employers are open to negotiating workdays and hours. I am given a lot of flexibility in my job, with the main stipulation being that I meet grant deadlines. Also- It’s a field with a good income potential. And finally, by working closely with non-profits, you get exposed to people and programs that you wouldn’t have otherwise, and you get to know different layers of Israeli society. It’s fascinating!

Is it better to be self-employed or part of an amuta?

As an American/Israeli citizen, for taxation reasons I’ve decided that it’s better to not be self-employed, but rather to be on payroll.

Do you have any other advice or tips for Olim?

1. Breathe! You are dealing with a different culture and mentality now. People may not respond to a message you write requesting information for a proposal, even if it’s time-sensitive. What worked abroad won’t necessarily work in Israel so if you are waiting for material from your client and they aren’t forthcoming or responsive, don’t be surprised. Which leads me to my next tip:
2. Be proactive and direct. You need to explain to your client that it’s in their best interest to respond to your inquiries and work with you so your grant proposal can be as effective and professional as possible.
3. Be aware of your larger goal and what you want ultimately. I wanted to do something for and with my I also wanted to have time for my highest values—family and tradition, which in Israeli culture are prioritized above work.
4. Also – don’t change your American work ethic and standards.
5. Realize that there is a 2-10-year lag in certain trends and processes in the NGO management world. There is an advantage to someone who can convey and facilitate the mindset and context of what is happening in the US and knows how to best interface with American collateral contacts. You’re a “cultural translator”!

How do you feel about working and living in Israel?

When things get challenging, I remind myself not to go looking for who I was before returning to Israel but rather to think about the kind of life I want, the values I am striving for and the overarching value of living in Israel. I am grateful that I am able to maintain two part-time jobs—a relatively low-paying government job and my consulting job which enables me to live comfortably. I am blessed that both my jobs are fulfilling, meaningful and involve contributing to Israeli society.