How to Ask For a Pay Rise at a Charity

4 minute read

Asking for a pay rise isn’t something anyone finds easy. It’s even harder if you’re the type of person who’s chosen to work for a not-for-profit organisation for the cause, not the cash. In smaller charities especially, there can be a painful awareness that every penny counts. Asking for more money can just feel wrong.

However, simmering frustration isn’t good for anyone. So, if you’ve considered asking for a pay rise, here are some tips to help you get started.

 

Why do you want a pay rise?

That question may sound daft. Who doesn’t, after all? But be ruthlessly honest with yourself. If you’re going to ask for a pay rise, it needs to be based on your worth to the organisation, your market value and what you’ve achieved in the job.

If you have doubts about any of these things, it may be time to think about making a move instead. Have you considered a career shift to look for jobs in other areas of the organisation that pay better? Or is it time to look elsewhere?

Some charities can afford to pay more than others. There’s every chance you could continue to invest your time in making a difference for a charity that has better prospects for pay and career development.

 

Organise your thoughts

If it’s a pay rise—not a move—that’s in your sights, then take time out to organise your thoughts and plot your approach. Are you working over and above expectations? Is there anything more you can offer? What are your strengths and weaknesses? And what are your professional achievements and aspirations? What ideas do you have that could add value?

Rack your brains and write it all down in priority order, with examples. Be clear in your own mind about what you’ve achieved in the last year and why it justifies asking for a pay rise now.

How to Ask For a Pay Rise at a Charity

Work out what you’re worth

You need hard facts to show why you’re worth more to your organisation. Speak to recruiters and get a steer on what you could earn elsewhere in the charity sector for your role or take a look at our salary report, which shows average charity salary for different roles at different-sized organisations. What’s the going rate for your skills and experience?

 

Know your numbers

When asking for a pay rise, know your numbers and come with a figure in mind. Keep it specific (a range usually doesn’t work) and make it slightly higher than you’d accept, so there’s some wiggle room. Make sure you can support it with evidence of market value and be prepared to talk through your achievements.

However, bear in mind who you’ll be talking to and the culture of where you work. Playing hardball is probably not appropriate and could backfire.

 

Think carefully about timing

Be proactive and set up the time and place yourself. Avoid busy periods. Use your common sense and knowledge of your boss to fix a time when they’re likely to be more receptive to this kind of discussion.

If there’s a set time of year for appraisals and pay reviews, it’s better to have this meeting a few months earlier so they can consider your request before they fix budgets.

How to Ask For a Pay Rise at a Charity

Have a plan B

Is there a plan B that leaves you with something rather than nothing? If your organisation rejects your request for a pay rise on the basis that your skills and achievements aren’t yet up to the required standard, how can you get there? What can they offer you in terms of training or career development? Is there a timeline you can work towards?

If, as is sometimes the case with small charities, they simply can’t afford to pay you more, how can you use this discussion to achieve a positive outcome?

Are there skills you can develop or projects you could be assigned that will help you develop your career whilst supporting the charity’s work in the meantime? Or is there an option for more flexible working benefits that could also be beneficial?

 

Practice

You’ve done your homework and planned your approach, now take the time to practice. Even if it’s just you at home talking to the mirror, it makes all the difference. For many of us, asking for more money is difficult. If you’ve done the prep and you’ve practised, you’ll handle this better.

 

Take notes

During the meeting, take a note of the key things discussed and capture them in an email afterwards so there’s a record of what’s been agreed.

What to avoid

You want your conversation, regardless of the outcome, to be a valuable one. Here are a few things you should avoid doing so that the discussion isn’t too heated, emotional, aggressive or blame-worthy, risking a defensive reaction from your boss.

Don’t:

  • time it wrong
  • arrive full of pent-up frustration or resentment
  • bring up personal reasons why you need more money
  • focus on what colleagues earn (or you’ve heard/think they earn)
  • issue an ultimatum unless you’re prepared to take the consequences.

Be confident and have a specific objective when you go to ask for a pay rise. Stick to the facts and what’s relevant to you alone. You may need to compromise, or you may be unhappy with the outcome in the short term, but it doesn’t mean you won’t have left an impression. Make sure it’s a good one.

Don’t feel that you’re being listened to? Sometimes, despite the best of efforts on both sides, you’re not going to get what you wanted. If you’re not feeling content in your current role, it could be time to move on.

Take a look at the jobs currently being advertised on our site. You might just find the perfect fit.

 

This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated to ensure relevance and to reflect the current jobseeker experience.

 

Jean Merrylees

Jean Merrylees is a freelance content writer and editor who has previously written for the BBC. Jean is now taking her first steps into the charity sector after spending some time writing for both Diabetes UK & CharityJob.

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