Fundraisers looking to climb the career ladder are stepping into a hot job market this year, with director of development landing at No. 7 on LinkedIn’s 25 Jobs on the Rise in 2025.
But what exactly does this increasingly sought-after position entail? My colleague Rasheeda Childress recently spoke with search firms and development directors about the role’s responsibilities, essential skills, and career paths that can lead to success.
“A director of development is largely responsible for setting the organization’s strategy for revenue generation, managing, and stewarding donors,” Christina Martin Kenny, a former development director and now fundraising consultant, told Rasheeda. “They should be the lead position overseeing all of an organization’s fundraising activities. That’s everything from making sure that tax receipts go out on time to donors to meeting with donors, meeting with prospective donors, managing grants if the organization has an active grant portfolio.”
The size of your organization matters, too. At larger nonprofits, development directors can typically focus more on big-picture strategy and major donor relationships, whereas smaller groups may expect development directors to handle everything themselves, requiring sharp prioritization skills.
“You just can’t do everything,” said Martin Kelly. “You need to take a step back and look at where are we seeing the most revenue growth and how can we capitalize on that. If it’s grants, then you should be putting most of your energy into grants.”
Regardless of organizational size, when it comes to snagging the role, there’s good news for nonprofit workers across the sector. There’s no single path to leadership in development. While some directors start in entry-level fundraising roles, others come from program work, and a few transition from outside the sector entirely.
For all of the insights, check Rasheeda’s full article: Development Director Is a Hot Job. What You Need to Snag This Position.You might also be interested in our prior coverage on how to find fundraising mentors, the future of fundraising, and advice for those early in their career.
Have a lovely week,
Sara Herschander
Reporter
