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The differences between foundation directors and directors of public affairs 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 director of public affairs. Additionally, a director of public affairs has an average salary of $114,639, 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 director of public affairs are government affairs, public policy, and external stakeholders.
| Foundation Director | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Yearly salary | $97,206 | $114,639 |
| Hourly rate | $46.73 | $55.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 10,791 | 26,290 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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.
Directors of Public Affairs are executives who manage the public relations and communications initiatives of the company. They oversee all external communications that are intended for broadcast. They create guidelines on the proper crafting of communication materials that will be published or broadcasted. They also lead the public affairs department in networking activities and industry events. Directors of Public Affairs must be level-headed, calm, and creative. They should know how to communicate with the public, handle crises, and create successful brands.
Foundation directors and directors of public affairs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Foundation Director | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Average salary | $97,206 | $114,639 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $159,000 | Between $70,000 And $187,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Kaiser Permanente |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a foundation director and a director of public affairs in terms of educational background:
| Foundation Director | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Political Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between foundation directors' and directors of public affairs' demographics:
| Foundation Director | Director Of Public Affairs | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 57.6% Female, 42.4% |
| 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, 8.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |