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Director of advancement vs director of special events

The differences between directors of advancement and directors of special events can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a director of advancement and a director of special events. Additionally, a director of advancement has an average salary of $117,155, which is higher than the $63,671 average annual salary of a director of special events.

The top three skills for a director of advancement include analytics, professional development and project management. The most important skills for a director of special events are event planning, alumni, and event management.

Director of advancement vs director of special events overview

Director Of AdvancementDirector Of Special Events
Yearly salary$117,155$63,671
Hourly rate$56.32$30.61
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs11,47323,252
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a director of advancement do?

The director of advancement plays an important role in the management of a development program that has the potential to advance a company's goals and mission. The typical duties for this role include leading employee communication functions, establishing asset level budget across the portfolio, and working closely with other departments, including compliance, investor relations, and tax/accounting. Additionally, you will be responsible for implementing an online solution for event management and email communication. As the director of the advancement, you should be understanding of employee needs and operational goals.

What does a director of special events do?

A director of special events spearheads and oversees the planning and execution of various events, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They typically set goals and guidelines, manage schedules and timelines, outline plans and strategies, coordinate managers and different departments, and liaise with vendors and suppliers, building positive business relationships in the process. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

Director of advancement vs director of special events salary

Directors of advancement and directors of special events have different pay scales, as shown below.

Director Of AdvancementDirector Of Special Events
Average salary$117,155$63,671
Salary rangeBetween $74,000 And $184,000Between $35,000 And $113,000
Highest paying CityMenlo Park, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyFirst Republic BankNRDC
Best paying industryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between director of advancement and director of special events education

There are a few differences between a director of advancement and a director of special events in terms of educational background:

Director Of AdvancementDirector Of Special Events
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Director of advancement vs director of special events demographics

Here are the differences between directors of advancement' and directors of special events' demographics:

Director Of AdvancementDirector Of Special Events
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 54.6% Female, 45.4%Male, 25.1% Female, 74.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between director of advancement and director of special events duties and responsibilities

Director of advancement example responsibilities.

  • Program development includes managing and building strong relationships with corporate and affinity partners to secure sponsorship and career enhancement for alumni
  • Raise millions of dollars for ACS through tax-advantage charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, and bequests.
  • Generate major gifts, including bequests and charitable gift annuities, by cultivating relationships with Eskaton residents.
  • Coordinate among cross-functional business departments including investor relations, risk, trading desk, compliance, tax/accounting, and portfolio administration.
  • Work with administrative leadership with community relations, including promotional events and media communication.

Director of special events example responsibilities.

  • Manage the communications/special events budget to ensure ROI in accordance with the communication plan.
  • Restructure the budget plan for the department, achieving significant cost reductions while increasing ROI.
  • Organize, execute and manage all VIP hospitality and auxiliary celebrity events.
  • Manage all aspects of these events and act as onsite manager to ensure meeting are delivered effectively and professionally.
  • Develop a BEO form to promote effective communication between front of house and back of house.
  • Collaborate with catering to create BEO s and assist clients with menu selection for meetings and events.
  • Show more

Director of advancement vs director of special events skills

Common director of advancement skills
  • Analytics, 22%
  • Professional Development, 12%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Alumni Relations, 5%
  • Strategic Plan, 4%
  • Donor Relations, 4%
Common director of special events skills
  • Event Planning, 13%
  • Alumni, 11%
  • Event Management, 7%
  • Event Logistics, 6%
  • Audio Visual, 4%
  • Press Releases, 3%

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