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Director of philanthropy vs grant manager

The differences between directors of philanthropy and grant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a director of philanthropy, becoming a grant manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a director of philanthropy has an average salary of $100,554, which is higher than the $60,692 average annual salary of a grant manager.

The top three skills for a director of philanthropy include donor relations, gift prospects and capital campaign. The most important skills for a grant manager are grants management, financial reports, and oversight.

Director of philanthropy vs grant manager overview

Director Of PhilanthropyGrant Manager
Yearly salary$100,554$60,692
Hourly rate$48.34$29.18
Growth rate8%12%
Number of jobs10,5797,726
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4245
Years of experience46

What does a director of philanthropy do?

A director of philanthropy spearheads and oversees outreach programs for communities and families. They usually work at charities and other non-profit organizations where they take the lead in conducting research and analyses, developing and implementing outreach plans, coordinating volunteer services, and negotiating with potential sponsors and donors, building positive relationships in the process. They may also participate in reaching out to communities and families who need different kinds of assistance, training volunteers, and solving issues and concerns if any arise. Moreover, a philanthropy director creates strategies to reach fundraising goals and develop revenue to sustain the organization.

What does a grant manager do?

A grant manager is responsible for granting financial assistance and support to various sector programs, evaluating grant applications, and implementing policies from its conceptualization to utilization. Grant managers review the grant documents, ensuring its adherence to internal guidelines and state regulations. They coordinate with clients and project management team to inform them of requirements and processes for approval, including the implementation of strategies to identify grant opportunities and policies. A grant manager handles the grant team for efficient coordination to make sure the efficient execution and analysis of grant programs.

Director of philanthropy vs grant manager salary

Directors of philanthropy and grant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Director Of PhilanthropyGrant Manager
Average salary$100,554$60,692
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $157,000Between $46,000 And $79,000
Highest paying CitySan Carlos, CAArlington, VA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyMarshall UniversityLow Income Investment Fund
Best paying industryHealth CareFinance

Differences between director of philanthropy and grant manager education

There are a few differences between a director of philanthropy and a grant manager in terms of educational background:

Director Of PhilanthropyGrant Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Director of philanthropy vs grant manager demographics

Here are the differences between directors of philanthropy' and grant managers' demographics:

Director Of PhilanthropyGrant Manager
Average age4245
Gender ratioMale, 32.1% Female, 67.9%Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage16%14%

Differences between director of philanthropy and grant manager duties and responsibilities

Director of philanthropy example responsibilities.

  • Manage communications with students, alumni and faculty, including distribution of all social media
  • Design strategies and implementation of plan giving, endowment, and scholarship programs.
  • Create and implement philanthropy events in order to raise money for trips and scholarship donations.
  • Design and restructure chapter's social media presence through rebuilding of websites and direct communication with alumni and local organizations.
  • Work with administrative leadership with community relations, including promotional events and media communication.

Grant manager example responsibilities.

  • Provide administrative support to NIH program functions; as well as providing logistical support, and managing data.
  • Organize and manage PowerPoint presentations used for business development and site visits.
  • Serve as principal financial resource and contact for subcontractors to ensure fiscal compliance of GAAP and OMB circulars.
  • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and yearly closeout financial reports per GAAP, state, and county guidelines.
  • Prepare and maintain the annual budgets for NIH grants and contracts utilizing computer spreadsheets.
  • Advise and assist NSF staff on the fiscal and managerial responsibility of institutions seeking NSF funding.
  • Show more

Director of philanthropy vs grant manager skills

Common director of philanthropy skills
  • Donor Relations, 21%
  • Gift Prospects, 13%
  • Capital Campaign, 9%
  • Strategic Plan, 9%
  • Fund Development, 6%
  • Philanthropic Events, 5%
Common grant manager skills
  • Grants Management, 13%
  • Financial Reports, 7%
  • Oversight, 6%
  • Principal Investigators, 5%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%

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