Director

Fundraising and Marketing Director

The person who marries mission with money — building donor relationships while telling stories that open wallets.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
S
A
I
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Fundraising and Marketing Directors
ConstructionEducation · 33%Consumer Services · 31%Healthcare · 17%Entertainment & Media · 6%Professional Services · 4%
Job markets for Fundraising and Marketing Directors
Employment concentration · ~131 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Marketing
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Fundraising and Marketing Director

This hybrid role combines fundraising strategy with marketing execution. You're responsible for both acquiring new donors and keeping existing ones engaged, while also managing the organization's public communications.

Your time splits between development work (major donor cultivation, grant applications, events) and marketing (campaigns, digital presence, storytelling). At smaller nonprofits, you're doing everything; at larger ones, you might oversee separate teams.

The people who thrive here genuinely believe in the mission and can translate that passion into compelling asks. It's emotionally demanding — you're constantly making the case for support, and rejection is part of the job.

What people in this role value
Work values data not available for this role.
Role Profile
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Things that vary from job to job as a Fundraising and Marketing Director
Org sizeCause areaIndividual vs institutional givingLocal vs national
University advancement is highly structured with major gift officers. Grassroots nonprofits need scrappier, more hands-on directors. Cause areas like healthcare or environment may have more foundation support.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$93K+13%
Professional Services$89K+8%
Energy & Utilities$86K+4%
Financial Services$80K-3%
Wholesale & Distribution$76K-8%
Compared to Marketing average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Fundraising and Marketing Directors (SOC 11-2033.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Career Growth OptionsMarketing track →
Fundraising and Marketing DirectorSales and Marketing DirectorBrand Creative DirectorAdvertising Director (Ad Director)Digital Advertising DirectorOnline Advertising DirectorMarketing DirectorMarketing Operations DirectorSales Marketing DirectorMedia Marketing DirectorAquaculture Cooperative Marketing Director
Exploring the Fundraising and Marketing Director career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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What it takes to advance
Lateral Moves
Executive Director →
Lead the entire organization
VP of Development →
Focus purely on fundraising at a larger org
Chief Marketing Officer (nonprofit) →
Focus purely on marketing and communications
Questions you might ask when interviewing
How do you balance the need for immediate revenue with long-term donor cultivation?
Tell me about your most successful fundraising campaign and what made it work.
How do you coordinate messaging between fundraising appeals and general communications?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$74K–$217K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
37K
U.S. Employment
+4.2%
10yr Growth
4K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$76K$72K$68K$65K$61K201920202021202220232024$61K$76K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionActive ListeningWritingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
11-2033.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.