Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Also Known As
- Advancement Director
- Annual Giving Director
- Development Director
- Fundraising Manager
Alternate Job Titles
- Account Manager
- Account Supervisor
- Advancement Director
- Annual Giving Director
- Campaign Manager
- Canvass Director
- Community Manager
- Development Director
- Donor Engagement Director
- Donor Relations Manager
- Foundation Director
- Funding Coordinator
- Fundraising and Marketing Director
- Fundraising Campaign Manager
- Fundraising Director
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- Manage fundraising budgets.
- Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.
- Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
- Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities.
- Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Manage stewardship activities to maintain connection with donors.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Persuasion
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Fluency of Ideas
- Originality
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Leadership Orientation
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Google Analytics
- Google Docs
- HubSpot software
Tools & Equipment
- Computer scanners
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
Work Environment
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Sitting
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $73,700 |
| Median | $123,480 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $216,660 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 36,920
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Fundraisers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $66,490
Public Relations Managers
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $138,520
Public Relations Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $69,780
Advertising and Promotions Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $126,960
Social and Community Service Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $78,240
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.