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Director of advancement vs manager of special events

The differences between directors of advancement and managers 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 manager of special events. Additionally, a director of advancement has an average salary of $117,155, which is higher than the $56,716 average annual salary of a manager 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 manager of special events are customer service, event planning, and event management.

Director of advancement vs manager of special events overview

Director Of AdvancementManager Of Special Events
Yearly salary$117,155$56,716
Hourly rate$56.32$27.27
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs11,47315,818
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 manager of special events do?

A manager of special events is responsible for organizing events and programs for a company and various organizations. Managers of special events monitor the event procedures from conceptualization to the actual execution. They analyze the event purpose, manage participants' list, coordinate with suppliers for resources, allocate budget accurately, and ensure that the program outlines and agendas are polished on time. A manager of special events must have excellent communication and organizational skills to deliver a successful event and resolve complications as they arise.

Director of advancement vs manager of special events salary

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

Director Of AdvancementManager Of Special Events
Average salary$117,155$56,716
Salary rangeBetween $74,000 And $184,000Between $31,000 And $101,000
Highest paying CityMenlo Park, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaHawaii
Best paying companyFirst Republic BankESPN
Best paying industryTechnologyNon Profits

Differences between director of advancement and manager of special events education

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

Director Of AdvancementManager 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 manager of special events demographics

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

Director Of AdvancementManager Of Special Events
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 54.6% Female, 45.4%Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3%
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, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between director of advancement and manager 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.

Manager of special events example responsibilities.

  • Negotiate contracts and manage project budgets to ensure optimal return on cost and measurable ROI.
  • Manage all aspects of these events and act as onsite manager to ensure meeting are delivered effectively and professionally.
  • Assist in planning, developing and producing PowerPoint and video presentations.
  • Measure and track ROI on a per school basis to create weekly schedule.
  • Control the up keep and organization of the entire foundation website and Facebook page.
  • Greet customers immediately upon entry into the VIP room and make wine and liquor suggestions.
  • Show more

Director of advancement vs manager 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 manager of special events skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Event Planning, 13%
  • Event Management, 9%
  • Event Logistics, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Inventory Control, 2%

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