Associate Directors of Development: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of associate directors of development about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for associate directors of development to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of associate directors of development expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for associate directors of development.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Associate Directors of Development?
Do associate directors of development need a degree? What kind of experience do associate directors of development typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for associate directors of development to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Associate Directors of Development
Jobs Postings for Associate Directors of Development By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 25,751 (60%)
- Master's degree: 7,325 (17%)
- No Education Listed: 7,236 (17%)
- High School or GED: 1,430 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,050 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of associate directors of development. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 60% of positions. In 17% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 17% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Associate Directors of Development
Jobs Postings for Associate Directors of Development By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,868 (7%)
- 2-3 Years: 9,677 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 9,494 (37%)
- 7-9 Years: 3,011 (12%)
- 10+ Years: 1,295 (5%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for associate directors of development. In 38% of job postings for Associate Directors of Development, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 37% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for associate directors of development.
What Kind of Degree Do Associate Directors of Development Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for associate directors of development, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 17 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective associate directors of development, and in 2023 a total of 88,219 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective associate directors of development.
Top Degree Programs for Associate Directors of Development
Top 5 Degree Programs for Associate Directors of Development (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 2,831 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. | 2,481 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications. | 2,031 |
| Music Management. | 1,986 |
| Organizational Communication, General. | 1,835 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other. | 1,470 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General. | 1,026 |
| Meeting and Event Planning. | 759 |
| Health Communication. | 416 |
| Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 61 |
| Grantsmanship. | 20 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, Other. | 3 |
What Skills Do Associate Directors of Development Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by associate directors of development to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for associate directors of development, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Associate Directors of Development
Based on 34,964 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Associate Directors of Development
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | 19,921 | 57% |
| Sales Prospecting | 13,026 | 37% |
| Marketing | 8,180 | 23% |
| Project Management | 7,159 | 20% |
| Philanthropy | 6,900 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Associate Directors of Development
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,139 | 60% |
| Management | 18,303 | 52% |
| Leadership | 15,350 | 44% |
| Research | 12,905 | 37% |
| Writing | 12,890 | 37% |
Based on 34,964 job postings related to associate directors of development, fundraising was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 57% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for sales prospecting, marketing, project management, philanthropy and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for associate directors of development, followed by management, leadership, research, writing and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | 19,921 | 57% |
| Sales Prospecting | 13,026 | 37% |
| Marketing | 8,180 | 23% |
| Project Management | 7,159 | 20% |
| Philanthropy | 6,900 | 20% |
| Finance | 6,535 | 19% |
| Planned Giving | 5,147 | 15% |
| Accounting | 4,687 | 13% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 4,083 | 12% |
| Grant Writing | 4,015 | 11% |
| Grant Applications | 3,599 | 10% |
| Raiser's Edge NXT | 3,305 | 9% |
| Prospect Research | 3,115 | 9% |
| Auditing | 2,921 | 8% |
| Financial Statements | 2,862 | 8% |
| Salesforce | 2,798 | 8% |
| Advertising Mail | 2,527 | 7% |
| Public Relations | 2,493 | 7% |
| Data Analysis | 2,093 | 6% |
| Newsletters | 1,809 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,139 | 60% |
| Management | 18,303 | 52% |
| Leadership | 15,350 | 44% |
| Research | 12,905 | 37% |
| Writing | 12,890 | 37% |
| Planning | 11,640 | 33% |
| Detail Oriented | 9,296 | 27% |
| Coordinating | 8,148 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 8,085 | 23% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,370 | 21% |
| Operations | 6,649 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 6,282 | 18% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 6,065 | 17% |
| Budgeting | 6,014 | 17% |
| Organizational Skills | 5,783 | 17% |
| Presentations | 5,471 | 16% |
| Customer Service | 5,336 | 15% |
| Self-Motivation | 4,865 | 14% |
| Problem Solving | 4,856 | 14% |
| Strategic Planning | 4,810 | 14% |
Additional Links
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