What Do Associate Directors of Development Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for associate directors of development?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what associate directors of development do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Associate Directors of Development Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about associate directors of development by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Associate Directors of Development plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Popular Job Titles For Associate Directors of Development
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Directors of Development
- Grants Managers
- Grants Administrators
- Directors of Philanthropy
- Grants Management Specialists
- Grants Specialists
- Associate Directors of Development
- Grants Coordinators
- Assistant Directors of Annual Giving
- Fundraising Managers
- Directors of Major Gifts
- Major Gifts Managers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for associate directors of development can be found.
Best Industries for Associate Directors of Development
Associate Directors of Development Jobs By Industry
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 17.4%
- Grantmaking and Giving Services: 17.3%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 9.1%
- Religious Organizations: 6.6%
- Social Advocacy Organizations: 5.3%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 5%
- Other: 39.3%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of associate directors of development can be found working in the Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools sector. In 2023, about 17.4% of all jobs for associate directors of development were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Grantmaking and Giving Services (17.3%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (9.1%), Religious Organizations (6.6%), Social Advocacy Organizations (5.3%) and Elementary and Secondary Schools (5%).
What Do Associate Directors of Development Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what associate directors of development do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work associate directors of development do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that associate directors of development tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for associate directors of development, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - 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% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Associate Directors of Development
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Directors of Development | 13,961 | 34.8% |
| Grants Managers | 4,797 | 12% |
| Grants Administrators | 2,128 | 5.3% |
| Directors of Philanthropy | 2,150 | 5.4% |
| Grants Management Specialists | 1,521 | 3.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was directors of development, with 4,710 unique job postings. Grants managers were second, with 894 postings, followed by grants administrators, directors of philanthropy and grants management specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to associate directors of development.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Directors of Development | 13,961 | 34.8% |
| Grants Managers | 4,797 | 12% |
| Grants Administrators | 2,128 | 5.3% |
| Directors of Philanthropy | 2,150 | 5.4% |
| Grants Management Specialists | 1,521 | 3.8% |
| Grants Specialists | 1,601 | 4% |
| Associate Directors of Development | 1,832 | 4.6% |
| Grants Coordinators | 1,538 | 3.8% |
| Assistant Directors of Annual Giving | 1,655 | 4.1% |
| Fundraising Managers | 890 | 2.2% |
| Directors of Major Gifts | 1,130 | 2.8% |
| Major Gifts Managers | 833 | 2.1% |
| Development Managers | 811 | 2% |
| Directors of Donor Engagement | 801 | 2% |
| Directors of Individual Giving | 861 | 2.1% |
| Annual Giving Managers | 924 | 2.3% |
| Individual Giving Managers | 501 | 1.3% |
| Directors of Leadership Giving | 776 | 1.9% |
| Assistant Directors of Development | 699 | 1.7% |
| Donor Relations Managers | 664 | 1.7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for associate directors of development? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for associate directors of development.
How much do associate directors of development make?
Associate Directors of Development: How do you become one?
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