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The differences between foundation directors and communications directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a foundation director and a communications director. Additionally, a communications director has an average salary of $107,700, which is higher than the $97,206 average annual salary of a foundation director.
The top three skills for a foundation director include foundation board, fund development and donor relations. The most important skills for a communications director are web content, press releases, and customer service.
| Foundation Director | Communications Director | |
| Yearly salary | $97,206 | $107,700 |
| Hourly rate | $46.73 | $51.78 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 10,791 | 27,939 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Foundation Directors are responsible for directing the operations of a foundation for an organization. Their duties include developing foundation policies, creating fundraising campaigns strategy, assisting in grant review and approval process, and ensuring all operations comply with legal regulations. They conduct budgeting, manage the organization's funds, and perform a liaison role between the foundation and family members. Foundation Directors set performance objectives and help drive employee recruitment and retention. They work with the board to ensure the foundation's mission is represented across all strategies set.
A communications director is responsible for monitoring and supervising the overall media relations from internal to external communications. A communications director's duties include managing campaigns, providing organizational updates to the employees, supporting social media marketing, developing effective communication strategies to build the organization's reputation, and efficiently leading team members in handling events that represent the business. Communications directors must have strong leadership and communication skills to provide support for the company's daily operations and strategies.
Foundation directors and communications directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Foundation Director | Communications Director | |
| Average salary | $97,206 | $107,700 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $159,000 | Between $61,000 And $188,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a foundation director and a communications director in terms of educational background:
| Foundation Director | Communications Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between foundation directors' and communications directors' demographics:
| Foundation Director | Communications Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.8% 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, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |