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The differences between foundation directors 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 foundation director and a manager of special events. Additionally, a foundation director has an average salary of $97,206, which is higher than the $56,716 average annual salary of a manager of special events.
The top three skills for a foundation director include foundation board, fund development and donor relations. The most important skills for a manager of special events are customer service, event planning, and event management.
| Foundation Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Yearly salary | $97,206 | $56,716 |
| Hourly rate | $46.73 | $27.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 10,791 | 15,818 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| 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 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.
Foundation directors and managers of special events have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Foundation Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Average salary | $97,206 | $56,716 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $159,000 | Between $31,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | ESPN |
| Best paying industry | - | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a foundation director and a manager of special events in terms of educational background:
| Foundation Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between foundation directors' and managers of special events' demographics:
| Foundation Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% |
| 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, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |