The National Society of Fund Raising Executives' 1999 Member Profile survey found that charitable fund raisers don't spend most of their time requesting donations.

More than two-thirds of those who responded spend 20 percent of their time or less seeking gifts. Most said they spend their time performing duties such as managing staff, seeking volunteers and coordinating events

Almost half say they spend from 20 percent to 80 percent of their time building relationships with donors.

"Marketing, management, public education, advocacy, developing relationships with donors -- the responsibilities of charitable fund raisers are more varied and complex than ever before," NSFRE President and CEO Paulette Maehara says in a press release.

Nearly one third of those responding are also responsible for generating revenues through sales, marketing or other activities.

To do so, many use new ways to bring in money, the survey results found. More then 80 percent of respondents rely on e-mail, and more than half use the Internet daily.

NSFRE has 22,000 members in 155 chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. A copy of the 1999 Member Profile can be obtained by nonmembers for $50 by calling Michael Nilsen in NSFRE's public affairs department at 800-666-3863.