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Director of philanthropy salary
Average director of philanthropy salary
$100,554
Director of Philanthropy Salary Overview
The Director of Philanthropy is a pivotal figure in nonprofit organizations, responsible for spearheading fundraising initiatives and building relationships with donors. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is $100,554 annually, translating to approximately $48 per hour. Compensation varies significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
Salary by State
Geographic location plays a vital role in determining salary levels. For instance, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to their cost of living and demand for philanthropic leadership. Additionally, experience levels can impact earnings, with seasoned professionals often earning considerably more.
Industries and Opportunities
Directors working in larger organizations or specific sectors, such as healthcare or education, may command higher salaries. Understanding these dynamics helps professionals navigate their career paths effectively and identify potential opportunities for advancement.
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Where can a Director Of Philanthropy earn more?
Director of philanthropy salary estimates from across the web
Average director of philanthropy salary by state
The highest-paying states for directors of philanthropy are California, Nevada, and New Jersey. The lowest average director of philanthropy salary states are Utah, Alabama, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of philanthropy
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $126,198 | $60.67 |
| 2 | Delaware | $116,671 | $56.09 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $116,661 | $56.09 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $117,297 | $56.39 |
| 5 | Nevada | $120,993 | $58.17 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $112,594 | $54.13 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $98,763 | $47.48 |
| 8 | New York | $111,090 | $53.41 |
| 9 | Virginia | $114,201 | $54.90 |
| 10 | Michigan | $108,815 | $52.31 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $112,189 | $53.94 |
| 12 | Oregon | $100,129 | $48.14 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $97,306 | $46.78 |
| 14 | Texas | $97,882 | $47.06 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $89,672 | $43.11 |
| 16 | Vermont | $104,296 | $50.14 |
| 17 | Georgia | $97,804 | $47.02 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $101,525 | $48.81 |
| 19 | Colorado | $95,367 | $45.85 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $83,712 | $40.25 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $94,269 | $45.32 |
| 22 | Kansas | $94,398 | $45.38 |
| 23 | Alaska | $91,632 | $44.05 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $86,189 | $41.44 |
| 25 | Arizona | $87,738 | $42.18 |
| 26 | Indiana | $91,264 | $43.88 |
| 27 | Maryland | $89,936 | $43.24 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $90,837 | $43.67 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $84,970 | $40.85 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $85,540 | $41.13 |
| 31 | Iowa | $87,265 | $41.95 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $86,343 | $41.51 |
| 33 | Idaho | $85,959 | $41.33 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $79,193 | $38.07 |
| 35 | Florida | $87,464 | $42.05 |
| 36 | Montana | $81,340 | $39.11 |
| 37 | Alabama | $77,449 | $37.24 |
| 38 | Illinois | $81,228 | $39.05 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $82,431 | $39.63 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $74,795 | $35.96 |
| 41 | Washington | $81,400 | $39.13 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $82,043 | $39.44 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $73,403 | $35.29 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $80,997 | $38.94 |
| 45 | Ohio | $81,278 | $39.08 |
| 46 | Maine | $81,896 | $39.37 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $75,142 | $36.13 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $79,790 | $38.36 |
| 49 | Utah | $77,599 | $37.31 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $82,242 | $39.54 |
| 51 | Missouri | $76,592 | $36.82 |
Highest paying cities for directors of philanthropy
The highest-paying cities for directors of philanthropy are San Carlos, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and New Haven, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Carlos, CA | $134,423 | $64.63 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $121,358 | $58.35 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $117,121 | $56.31 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $115,752 | $55.65 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $113,555 | $54.59 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $112,828 | $54.24 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $111,635 | $53.67 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $109,215 | $52.51 |
| 9 | Burlington, VT | $103,087 | $49.56 |
| 10 | El Paso, TX | $102,143 | $49.11 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $99,163 | $47.67 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $95,233 | $45.79 |
| 13 | Orlando, FL | $89,015 | $42.80 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $88,233 | $42.42 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $86,969 | $41.81 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $85,633 | $41.17 |
| 17 | Huntington, WV | $82,347 | $39.59 |
| 18 | Asheville, NC | $82,329 | $39.58 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $81,779 | $39.32 |
| 20 | Seattle, WA | $81,666 | $39.26 |
Director of philanthropy salary details
A director of philanthropy's salary ranges from $64,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $157,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of philanthropy's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $157,000 | $13,083 | $75 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 | $10,583 | $61 |
| Average | $100,554 | $8,380 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
Highest paying director of philanthropy jobs
The highest paying types of directors of philanthropy are vice president of communication, vice president of public relations, and vice president of programming.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Manager | $91,426 | $7,619 | $43.95 | 35,273 |
| Campaign Manager | $78,890 | $6,574 | $37.93 | 12,293 |
| Grant Manager | $60,692 | $5,058 | $29.18 | 7,726 |
| Community Development Director | $109,396 | $9,116 | $52.59 | 66,252 |
| Public Relations Director | $94,692 | $7,891 | $45.52 | 31,693 |
| Communications Director | $107,700 | $8,975 | $51.78 | 27,939 |
Top companies hiring directors of philanthropy now:
Which companies pay directors of philanthropy the most?
Director of philanthropy salaries at Marshall University and University of Maryland Medical System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of philanthropy salary at companies like Mercy Corps and The University of Vermont Health Network are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshall University | $166,771 | $80.18 |
| 2 | University of Maryland Medical System | $139,613 | $67.12 |
| 3 | Mercy Corps | $129,852 | $62.43 |
| 4 | The University of Vermont Health Network | $108,281 | $52.06 |
| 5 | American Public Gardens Association | $107,919 | $51.88 |
| 6 | Sutter Health | $107,665 | $51.76 |
| 7 | Harvard University | $99,824 | $47.99 |
| 8 | Cuesta College | $99,395 | $47.79 |
| 9 | SMC | $98,235 | $47.23 |
| 10 | HealthRIGHT 360 | $97,968 | $47.10 |
| 11 | Dignity Health | $97,184 | $46.72 |
| 12 | DreamSpring | $93,427 | $44.92 |
| 13 | Virginia Hospital Center | $93,264 | $44.84 |
| 14 | YMCA | $93,044 | $44.73 |
| 15 | Seattle Children's Healthcare System | $91,833 | $44.15 |
| 16 | Mental Health Center Of Denver | $90,029 | $43.28 |
| 17 | Southwestern Law School | $89,997 | $43.27 |
| 18 | Loyola Marymount University | $89,926 | $43.23 |
| 19 | American Cancer Society | $88,510 | $42.55 |
| 20 | Providence Health & Services | $87,808 | $42.22 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director Of Philanthropy salary by industry
The average director of philanthropy salary varies across industries:
- The average director of philanthropy salary in the health care industry is $101,940, the highest of any industry.
- The average director of philanthropy salary in the finance industry is $85,300.
- Directors of philanthropy in the professional industry earn an average salary of $65,876, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for directors of philanthropy
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| 2 | Finance | $85,300 | $41.01 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $83,782 | $40.28 |
| 4 | Education | $67,478 | $32.44 |
| 5 | Professional | $65,876 | $31.67 |
High paying director of philanthropy jobs
Director of philanthropy salary trends
The average director of philanthropy salary has risen by $23,618 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of philanthropy earned $76,935 annually, but today, they earn $100,554 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for directors of philanthropy over the last decade.
Compare director of philanthropy salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of philanthropy salary over time
Compare director of philanthropy salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of philanthropy salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $101,000 | $48.34 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $96,600 | $46.45 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $94,700 | $45.51 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $91,800 | $44.11 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $88,500 | $42.54 | +3.0% |
Recently added director of philanthropy salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventist Healthcare | Director of Philanthropy, Weekdays, The Lourie Center | Rockville, MD | 06/24/2025 | $116,228 |
| Goodwill of Southern Nevada | Director of Philanthropy | Las Vegas, NV | 06/23/2025 | $90,000 |
| Dignity Health | Director Philanthropy Major Gifts | Los Angeles, CA | 06/22/2025 | $118,082 |
| JVS Socal | Director of Philanthropy, Donor Groups | Los Angeles, CA | 06/21/2025 | $115,000 |
| Girl Scout Council of The Nation's Capital | Director of Philanthropy | Washington, DC | 06/20/2025 | $110,000 |
| American Cancer Society | Director, Philanthropy | Birmingham, AL | 06/19/2025 | $92,000 |
| New York University | Director of Development, Global Philanthropy | New York, NY | 06/18/2025 | $125,000 |
| Canine Companions for Independence | Director Philanthropy | Oceanside, CA | 06/17/2025 | $85,000 |
| Jewish Community Center Association of Indianapolis Inc. | Philanthropy Director | Indianapolis, IN | 06/16/2025 | $80,000 |
| DB Franchising USA | Director of Philanthropy | Tempe, AZ | 06/16/2025 | $137,398 |
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