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Development Director Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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A 348471706non profit4.0director3.91marketing1.73fundraising1.59executive director1.5629351131422120000.00103942.80255000.00YEARLY1909346642025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Development Director, or Director of Development, oversees all of an organization’s fundraising and manages relationships with a company’s financial partners. Their duties include planning fundraising events, interacting with former donors to encourage ongoing contributions and seeking out opportunities for financial support through grants and sponsorships.

348471706non profit4.0director3.91marketing1.73fundraising1.59executive director1.5629351131422120000.00103942.80255000.00YEARLY1909346642025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Development Director duties and responsibilities

A 348471706non profit4.0director3.91marketing1.73fundraising1.59executive director1.5629351131422120000.00103942.80255000.00YEARLY1909346642025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Development Director works closely with a variety of employees and donors. They often have the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Use sales and spending cycles to guide fundraising campaign decisions
  • Find ideal donors from public and private investors
  • Create a respectful reputation for the company or nonprofit they represent
  • Construct graphs and reports to convey their strategies and needs
  • Build new donor relationships while maintaining ongoing ones
  • Write content to earn grants, new audiences and better relationships with donors and other corporations

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Development Director Job Description Examples

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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What does a 348471706non profit4.0director3.91marketing1.73fundraising1.59executive director1.5629351131422120000.00103942.80255000.00YEARLY1909346642025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Development Director do?

Development Directors typically work at non-profits and community organizations that rely on charitable donations to sustain their mission, but they can also work at corporations seeking partners on new initiatives. A 348471706non profit4.0director3.91marketing1.73fundraising1.59executive director1.5629351131422120000.00103942.80255000.00YEARLY1909346642025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Development Director is responsible for raising enough money to meet their organization’s financial goals, forecasting future income and gathering feedback from donors. Development Directors work closely with public relations professionals to attract attention from potential supporters and host industry events that raise awareness of their organization’s goals. They help department leaders to create their own fundraising programs and connect them with opportunities to get more donations.

348471706non profit4.0director3.91marketing1.73fundraising1.59executive director1.5629351131422120000.00103942.80255000.00YEARLY1909346642025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05Development Director skills and qualifications

Here are some common skills and qualifications needed to become a Director of Development:

  • Management or leadership experience preferred
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required
  • Organizational, time-management and problem-solving skills needed
  • Ability to lead and direct others
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Knowledge of grant writing
  • Some knowledge of different CMS platforms
  • Event planning capabilities

Development Director salary expectations

A Development Director makes an average of $95,526 per year. Salary may depend on level of experience, education and the geographical location.

Development Director salary expectations

2025-10-0120000.00103942.80255000.00YEARLY
  • Common salary: 103942.80 YEARLY
  • Typical salaries range from 20000.00 - 255000.00 YEARLY
  • Find more information on Indeed Salaries

*Indeed data – 2025-10-01

Development Director education and training requirements

Most Development Directors have at least a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit administration, business administration, communications or a similar field. Some Development Directors hold a Master of Business Administration or a master’s degree in fundraising, which may substitute for some experience and training.

There is a Certified Fund Raising Executive certification for these professionals, though it is not a minimum requirement. A CFRE demonstrates a candidate’s ability to apply fundraising techniques in a role. A Director of Development often receives training as they gain experience in lower-level fundraising roles. They could also seek training to become more effective managers since it is a leadership position.

Development Director experience requirements

A Director of Development should have at least five years of experience. For larger companies or nonprofits, they may need up to 15 years to show they can manage more employees and responsibilities. Experience should be mainly in fundraising, though marketing, communication or business roles can transfer well. Candidates should have familiarity with sales and marketing strategies, grant writing and event planning. Leadership experience is especially useful for managing fundraising employees.

Job description samples for similar positions

Here are some job description samples similar to a Director of Development:

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Frequently asked questions about Development Directors

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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