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Foundation director salary
Average foundation director salary
$97,206
Understanding the Role of a Foundation Director
A Foundation Director plays a crucial role in nonprofit organizations, overseeing fundraising efforts, grant management, and community outreach. The average salary of $97,206 reflects the responsibilities and demands associated with this position. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific organization type.
Where Can You Earn More?
Foundation Directors in states like California and New York often earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and regional funding dynamics. For instance, the highest paying states offer salaries that can exceed $120,000 annually. Moreover, those with advanced degrees or extensive experience in management may negotiate higher compensation.
Job Outlook and Opportunities
The demand for Foundation Directors is expected to grow as nonprofits increase their focus on effective fundraising and program implementation. This growth means more opportunities for aspiring candidates. Utilize resources such as Zippia to explore available positions, understand regional salary trends, and refine your qualifications to meet the evolving needs of the nonprofit sector.
Let Zippia find your next foundation director job
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Where can a Foundation Director earn more?
Foundation director salary estimates from across the web
Average foundation director salary by state
The average foundation director salary in New Jersey, New York, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average foundation director salary states are Alabama, South Carolina, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for foundation directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $119,473 | $57.44 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $119,559 | $57.48 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $118,691 | $57.06 |
| 4 | Delaware | $118,952 | $57.19 |
| 5 | California | $118,964 | $57.19 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $101,056 | $48.58 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $113,183 | $54.41 |
| 8 | Virginia | $117,502 | $56.49 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $116,241 | $55.89 |
| 10 | Nevada | $114,941 | $55.26 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $94,672 | $45.52 |
| 12 | Vermont | $105,118 | $50.54 |
| 13 | Michigan | $112,008 | $53.85 |
| 14 | Georgia | $99,365 | $47.77 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $108,568 | $52.20 |
| 16 | Texas | $96,976 | $46.62 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $98,756 | $47.48 |
| 18 | Oregon | $96,985 | $46.63 |
| 19 | Iowa | $90,774 | $43.64 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $90,133 | $43.33 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $100,928 | $48.52 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $92,251 | $44.35 |
| 23 | Kansas | $96,066 | $46.19 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $88,455 | $42.53 |
| 25 | Indiana | $93,920 | $45.15 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $89,360 | $42.96 |
| 27 | Maryland | $92,238 | $44.35 |
| 28 | Colorado | $85,264 | $40.99 |
| 29 | Illinois | $83,351 | $40.07 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $79,256 | $38.10 |
| 31 | Florida | $88,434 | $42.52 |
| 32 | Arizona | $84,875 | $40.81 |
| 33 | Alabama | $78,279 | $37.63 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $86,770 | $41.72 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $86,755 | $41.71 |
| 36 | Alaska | $86,302 | $41.49 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $84,119 | $40.44 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $82,758 | $39.79 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $84,848 | $40.79 |
| 40 | Ohio | $84,006 | $40.39 |
| 41 | Montana | $79,774 | $38.35 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $73,839 | $35.50 |
| 43 | Idaho | $83,383 | $40.09 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $81,271 | $39.07 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $74,727 | $35.93 |
| 46 | Washington | $78,717 | $37.84 |
| 47 | Maine | $82,087 | $39.46 |
| 48 | Missouri | $78,801 | $37.89 |
| 49 | Utah | $75,813 | $36.45 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $76,973 | $37.01 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $74,634 | $35.88 |
Highest paying cities for foundation directors
The highest-paying cities for foundation directors are Santa Cruz, CA, New York, NY, and Hamden, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz, CA | $127,876 | $61.48 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $120,736 | $58.05 |
| 3 | Hamden, CT | $119,506 | $57.45 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $118,893 | $57.16 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $117,067 | $56.28 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $113,563 | $54.60 |
| 7 | Lubbock, TX | $99,460 | $47.82 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $95,792 | $46.05 |
| 9 | Hutchinson, KS | $94,459 | $45.41 |
| 10 | Little Rock, AR | $94,313 | $45.34 |
| 11 | Bloomington, IN | $93,271 | $44.84 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $92,772 | $44.60 |
| 13 | Dubuque, IA | $92,460 | $44.45 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $92,362 | $44.40 |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $89,847 | $43.20 |
| 16 | Boynton Beach, FL | $87,939 | $42.28 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $86,731 | $41.70 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $85,171 | $40.95 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $84,829 | $40.78 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $83,593 | $40.19 |
Foundation director salary details
A foundation director's salary ranges from $59,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $159,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a foundation director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $159,000 | $13,250 | $76 |
| 75th Percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $61 |
| Average | $97,206 | $8,101 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
Highest paying foundation director jobs
The highest paying types of foundation directors are director, customer relations, director of client relations, and director of public affairs.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Manager | $60,692 | $5,058 | $29.18 | 7,726 |
| Manager Of Special Events | $56,716 | $4,726 | $27.27 | 15,818 |
| Campaign Manager | $78,890 | $6,574 | $37.93 | 12,293 |
| Manager Of Corporate Communications | $84,161 | $7,013 | $40.46 | 34,908 |
| Director, Customer Relations | $134,672 | $11,223 | $64.75 | 26,470 |
| Director Of Client Relations | $116,480 | $9,707 | $56.00 | 63,226 |
Top companies hiring foundation directors now:
Which companies pay foundation directors the most?
Foundation director salaries at Airbnb and Cambridge Associates are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average foundation director salary at companies like Mercy Medical Center, Canton, Ohio and Baylor Scott & White Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airbnb | $183,832 | $88.38 |
| 2 | Cambridge Associates | $161,098 | $77.45 |
| 3 | Mercy Medical Center, Canton, Ohio | $146,157 | $70.27 |
| 4 | Baylor Scott & White Health | $145,949 | $70.17 |
| 5 | Creative Artists Agency | $144,134 | $69.30 |
| 6 | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | $130,638 | $62.81 |
| 7 | D.R. Horton | $125,612 | $60.39 |
| 8 | Logan Health | $124,134 | $59.68 |
| 9 | Jellico Medical Center | $123,782 | $59.51 |
| 10 | Baptist Health Home Care | $122,412 | $58.85 |
| 11 | Hutchinson Regional Medical Center | $122,127 | $58.71 |
| 12 | Npr | $122,102 | $58.70 |
| 13 | Blackstone Group | $121,948 | $58.63 |
| 14 | UnityPoint Health | $118,911 | $57.17 |
| 15 | Parkland Hospital | $114,975 | $55.28 |
| 16 | Scripps Health | $113,935 | $54.78 |
| 17 | Stanford University | $109,461 | $52.63 |
| 18 | Andersen | $105,413 | $50.68 |
| 19 | Atlantic Health | $104,362 | $50.17 |
| 20 | UnitedHealth Group | $103,579 | $49.80 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Foundation director salary trends
The average foundation director salary has risen by $22,832 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average foundation director earned $74,374 annually, but today, they earn $97,206 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for foundation directors over the last decade.
Compare foundation director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average foundation director salary over time
Compare foundation director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Foundation director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $97,200 | $46.73 | +3.9% |
| 2025 | $93,400 | $44.90 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $91,500 | $43.99 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $88,700 | $42.64 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $85,500 | $41.13 | +3.0% |
Recently added foundation director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventhealth | Director of Development, Foundations | Orlando, FL | 06/28/2025 | $25,000 |
| Blinn College | Director Blinn College Foundation | Brenham, TX | 06/28/2025 | $129,039 |
| T-Mobile Usa | Director, Foundational Data & Capability Products | Bellevue, WA | 06/27/2025 | $181,600 |
| Hackensack Meridian Health | Director, Accounting and Budgets-Foundation | Edison, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $131,144 |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Director of Niacc Foundation | Mason City, IA | 06/22/2025 | $76,600 |
| Hillel International | Director of Development at Texas Hillel Foundation | Austin, TX | 06/22/2025 | $90,000 |
| Every Cure | Director of Foundation Relations | New York, NY | 06/22/2025 | $150,000 |
| North Dakota University System | Foundation Director | Bottineau, ND | 06/17/2025 | $114,785 |
| Lyft | Director, Design Foundations | San Francisco, CA | 06/16/2025 | $203,000 |
| Foundation Fighting Blindness | Grants and Foundations Director | Washington, DC | 06/14/2025 | $110,000 |
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