What does a Development 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 Development 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.
Development 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
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Common salary:
103942.80 YEARLY -
Typical salaries range from
20000.00 -255000.00 YEARLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
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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