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Development and Fundraising Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Development and Fundraising Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Development and Fundraising Director in the United States is $144,470 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $69.

However, a Development and Fundraising Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $189,037
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $126,992 to $167,798
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $111,079
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Development and Fundraising Director Salaries

A Development and Fundraising Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Development and Fundraising Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Development and Fundraising Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Development and Fundraising Supervisor (3-5 years): $79,098
  • Development and Fundraising Manager (5+ years): $97,618
  • Development and Fundraising Sr. Manager (5+ years): $110,463
  • Development and Fundraising Director (5+ years): $144,470
  • VP of Development and Fundraising (5+ years): $282,000
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Development and Fundraising Supervisor3-5 years$79,098
Development and Fundraising Manager5+ years$97,618
Development and Fundraising Sr. Manager5+ years$110,463
Development and Fundraising Director5+ years$144,470
VP of Development and Fundraising5+ years$282,000
View as Graph

How Do Development and Fundraising Director Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Development and Fundraising Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $159,957.
  • California: $159,350.
  • Massachusetts: $157,227.

Top Paying Cities for Development and Fundraising Directors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $182,220
  • San Francisco: $180,225
  • Oakland: $176,427

What Skills Can Increase a Development and Fundraising Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.09% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Community Engagement (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Community engagement seeks to engage community to achieve sustainable outcomes, equitable decision-making processes, and deepen relationships and trust between government organisations and communities.
  • Event Planning (Mentioned in 0.76% Job Postings): Event planning is the process of managing a project such as a meeting, convention, tradeshow, ceremony, team building activity, party, or convention.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.09%
Community Engagement 1.27%
Event Planning 0.76%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Development and Fundraising Director's salary.

  • Strategic Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Empowerment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Strategic Thinking $151,694
5%
Team Management $150,249
4%
Empowerment $150,249
4%
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Development and Fundraising Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Development and Fundraising Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $154,127. While startup companies pay approximate $131,043.

Development and Fundraising Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $131,043
Growth Stage 51~500 $138,430
Established 501~5000 $148,995
Enterprise 5000+ $154,127

Development and Fundraising Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Development and Fundraising Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 30% above the average. Conversely, Development and Fundraising Director positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Development and Fundraising Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Development and Fundraising Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$187,811$90.030%

How Education impacts a Development and Fundraising Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Development and Fundraising Director enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Development and Fundraising Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $140,834 and $158,509.

Development and Fundraising Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Development and Fundraising Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 4.0%
Associates 6.0%
Bachelors 52.1%
Masters 35.8%
Doctorate 1.4%
View as Graph

Development and Fundraising Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Development and Fundraising Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$126,992
Average $144,470/year
$167,798
$10,583
Average $12,039/month
$13,983
$2,442
Average $2,778/week
$3,227
$61
Average $69/hour
$81
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $167,798 $13,983 $3,227 $81
Average $144,470 $12,039 $2,778 $69
25th Percentile $126,992 $10,583 $2,442 $61

Development and Fundraising Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Development and Fundraising Director

Next Role

For a Development and Fundraising Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Development and Fundraising role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $282,000 - a projected growth of 95% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Development and Fundraising Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Development and Fundraising Director

Here are companies hiring for Development and Fundraising Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Development and Fundraising Director

1. Where can a Development and Fundraising Director earn the most?

A Development and Fundraising Director's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Development and Fundraising Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Development and Fundraising Director is $182,220.

2. What is the highest pay for Development and Fundraising Director?

The highest pay for Development and Fundraising Director is $189,037.

3. What is the lowest pay for Development and Fundraising Director?

The lowest pay for Development and Fundraising Director is $111,079.

4. What are the responsibilities of Development and Fundraising Director?

Directs an organization's fundraising strategies, campaigns, capital development initiatives, and operations to support the overall organizational development and revenue objectives. Leads donor stewardship and relations to identify, develop, retain, and nurture a portfolio of individual and institutional donors. Researches and identifies potential corporate or governmental partnerships and grant funding opportunities. Creates collaborative coordination between staff and internal stakeholders to plan events and communications to increase donor engagement. Uses technology to manage and monitor donor information and produce data-driven measurement and reporting of the progress of fundraising goals. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to top management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Development and Fundraising Director?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Development and Fundraising Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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