Recently, we successfully closed an executive-level fundraising role for a top-tier global asset manager. It got us thinking about the growing demand we’re seeing for private equity and asset management fundraising positions in an increasingly challenging environment. While fundraising is a well-known and established career path in the US, it’s still relatively new in Canada and therefore is not a path that most finance professionals have traditionally considered.  

We wanted to highlight this attractive career path so we sat down with some of our recent fundraising client contacts to dive into their perspective on the job, what it entails, and why you might want to consider it as your next career move. 

Why should someone consider this career path? 

• Work-life balance – Hours are usually better than deal-based work but often requires travel 
• Strong compensation – Competitive with investment banking and direct investing roles 
• Dynamic opportunity to work with investors but from a relationship-focused perspective.  
• It is highly fulfilling playing a critical role in the success of the organization. 

What to consider before pursuing a fundraising role? 

• It differs from the investment side where you have to know a topic a mile deep; instead in fundraising you go a few feet deep on several items (e.g. specialist funds, strategies, and historical performance) 
• Offers a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of private markets and collaborate across the organization developing strategies behind the scenes across research, negotiation, structuring and always being the point of contact for anything the prospect/clients throw your way.  

What kind of person thrives in this role? 

• Intellectually curious and likes to stay on top of market trends, prospects, and strategies  
• High-energy, dynamic, strong-willed professionals with high EQ and driven for success 
• Detail-oriented individuals who care about the finer points.  
• Strong work ethic and perseverance. 

What skills lead to success? 

• Excellent communication and presentation skills for engaging investors effectively.  
• Technical knowledge of finance and private markets to navigate the fundraising landscape. 
• Organizational prowess and effective time management to handle multiple tasks.  
• Strong relationship management skills for building and maintaining connections.  

What makes the role fulfilling? 

• Engaging with diverse stakeholders such as investors, product development, portfolio managers, and more.  
• Showcasing your firm’s story and investment offerings and playing a key role in the success of your firm. 
• Staying informed about fund performance and focus areas to drive impactful fundraising discussions.  
• Helping investors achieve their goals and witnessing positive outcomes following investments.  
• Providing valuable insights for product development and helping to bring innovative solutions to the market. 

What does a typical day involve? 

While every week may vary, some typical activities include: 

• Building new and maintaining existing relationships with investors. Identifying and reaching out to prospects, conducting pitches, responding to queries, meetings and update emails.  
• Facilitating the capital raising process by managing due diligence process, responding to questionnaires, providing case studies, and responding to RFIs/RFPs.  
• Continuous reading and learning about your firm’s products, competitors, and finance/economic/industry developments. 
• Representing your firm by participating in conferences and events and supporting other marketing initiatives such as developing and updating investor materials.  
• Attending investment committee and portfolio management meetings.  

If you’re looking for a top-tier fundraiser for your business, get in touch. We can help you find someone exceptional.