As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Foundation Director in the United States is $166,436. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $145,324 to $194,588, with most professionals earning between $126,103 and $220,219.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $194,588 | $16,216 | $3,742 | $94 |
| Average | $166,436 | $13,870 | $3,201 | $80 |
| 25th Percentile | $145,324 | $12,110 | $2,795 | $70 |
An entry-level Foundation Director with less than 1 year of experience earns about $153,517. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $155,407. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $157,928. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $161,079, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $164,230.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Foundation Director | $153,517 |
| Intermediate Level Foundation Director | $155,407 |
| Senior Level Foundation Director | $157,928 |
| Specialist Level Foundation Director | $161,079 |
| Expert Level Foundation Director | $164,230 |
| Entry Level | 8% |
| Mid Level | 7% |
| Senior Level | 5% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 1% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Foundation Director compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $151,881 in 2023 to approximately $149,776 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Foundation Director salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Foundation Director information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Foundation Director job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Foundation Director and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $166,436 | 74.3% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $12,732 | 5.7% | ||
| 401K/403B | $7,822 | 3.5% | ||
| Disability | $1,331 | 0.6% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,056 | 2.7% | ||
| Pension | $9,154 | 4.1% | ||
| Time Off | $20,484 | 9.1% | ||
| Total Compensation | $224,016 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| High School | 4.7% |
| Associates | 1.7% |
| Bachelors | 43.1% |
| Masters | 42.2% |
| Doctorate | 8.2% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Foundation Director is $166,436. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Foundation Director is $80; the average weekly pay of Foundation Director is $3,201; the average monthly pay of Foundation Director is $13,870.
A Foundation 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 Foundation Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Foundation Director is $209,926.
The highest pay for Foundation Director is $220,219.
The lowest pay for Foundation Director is $126,103.
Directs the execution of the vision, strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, and grantmaking operations that support the overall objectives of a foundation. Defines the goals and tactics for fundraising campaigns and program initiatives. Represents the foundation to the public and media to communicate its mission, values, and accomplishments. Maintains positive relationships with foundation stakeholders, including the board of directors, grantees, community leaders, donors, and prospective donors. Oversees grantmaking operations, including developing grant guidelines, reviewing grant applications, and managing the grant evaluation process. Manages foundation programs and initiatives that align with the foundation's mission and values. Implements systems for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the foundation's grantmaking and programs. Ensures all foundation activities comply with applicable laws, reporting requirements, and regulations. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to senior 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.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
Office Management: Office management is a profession involving the design, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of the process of work within an office or other organization, in order to sustain and improve efficiency and productivity.
Professional Development: Professional development refers to continuing education and career training after a person has entered the workforce in order to help them develop new skills, stay up-to-date on current trends, and advance their career.
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.
