How much does a nonprofit development director make?
The same role goes by several titles, and this page covers them together, whether you searched for development director salary, director of development pay, or chief development officer compensation. Pay tracks the scale of the fundraising operation more than the exact title on the door.
These figures come from each organization's most recent Form 990, the annual return tax-exempt organizations file under penalty of perjury, covering fiscal years 2019 through 2024. Nothing here is modeled, estimated, or projected.
Why nonprofit development director pay varies so widely
Fundraising scale is the main driver. A development director responsible for a $500,000 annual campaign and one leading a $50 million capital campaign carry very different goals and teams, and pay follows that responsibility more than tenure or location. In this data, the median development director at a nonprofit with revenue under $1m earns $24k, while at organizations with revenue over $100m the median rises to $281k.
Sector and geography add to the spread. Universities, hospitals, and large cultural institutions run the biggest development shops and pay accordingly, and major metros pay more than rural areas. Filter by size, state, and sector above to benchmark a specific role. Among states with enough filings to compare, District of Columbia reports the highest median nonprofit development director compensation at $161,583.
How does Development Director pay scale with org size?
Median total compensation by nonprofit annual revenue for four executive roles. The shaded area shows the 25th to 75th percentile range for development directors. Hover for details.
Show data as table
| Org Revenue | 25th | Median | 75th | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | $11,230 | $24,250 | $55,214 | 447 |
| $1M - $5M | $100,216 | $124,304 | $147,828 | 1,032 |
| $5M - $25M | $120,591 | $144,251 | $181,152 | 1,961 |
| $25M - $100M | $148,413 | $191,114 | $242,802 | 924 |
| Over $100M | $198,582 | $280,990 | $410,275 | 291 |
How does Development Director pay compare to other roles?
Median total compensation for common nonprofit leadership roles, from IRS Form 990 data.
How development director pay fits the rest of the leadership team
Fundraising leadership usually sits below the executive director and often near the CFO or COO in a nonprofit's pay structure. The role comparison above shows where the development director median lands against other senior roles, which helps when you are setting a salary band or evaluating an offer.
Where are nonprofit development directors positions concentrated?
Cities with the most Development Director positions reporting compensation data.
Development Director Compensation by State
States with the highest median compensation for nonprofit development directors.
Development Director Salary by Organization Size
Median Development Director compensation at nonprofits grouped by annual revenue.
Development Director Salary by Sector
Median Development Director compensation across nonprofit sectors with enough filings to benchmark.
Compare Development Director compensation
Enter a Development Director compensation package to see how it ranks against other nonprofit development directors nationally. We will also email you a detailed breakdown and set up a free account.
Sample records
Actual compensation from IRS Form 990 filings.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a nonprofit Development Director typically earn?
- Compensation varies widely depending on the organization. At small nonprofits with revenue under $1M, development directors may earn under $24,250. At large organizations with budgets over $100M, median compensation can exceed $280,990. The national median across all nonprofit sizes is $141,732.
- Why does organization budget matter so much for Development Director pay?
- Larger nonprofits handle more complex finances, larger teams, and greater regulatory requirements. A Development Director overseeing a $200M budget has a fundamentally different job than one managing $500K. The IRS Form 990 data reflects this: compensation scales with organizational complexity, not just revenue. Geographic cost of living and sector also play significant roles.
- Which states pay nonprofit development directors the most?
- District of Columbia leads with a median of $161,583, followed by Virginia at $159,114 and New York at $158,829. Higher-paying states generally have higher costs of living and larger concentrations of well-funded nonprofits. Use the search tool above to filter by any state or city.
- How is this data different from salary surveys?
- Most salary data online comes from self-reported surveys or job posting estimates. This data comes from IRS Form 990 filings, which are legal documents filed under penalty of perjury. Every tax-exempt organization with gross receipts over $200,000 must report compensation for officers, directors, and highest-paid employees. The result is a more complete and reliable dataset than voluntary survey responses.
- How does Development Director pay compare to other nonprofit executive roles?
- The median nonprofit Development Director earns $141,732. Other common roles: Executive Director at $89,394, CFO at $87,663, COO at $141,080. Differences reflect scope of responsibility, market demand, and typical organization size for each role.
- How do I know if I'm underpaid as a nonprofit Development Director?
- Compare your total compensation to the percentile spread. The median nonprofit Development Director earns $141,732, with the middle half between $111,954 and $190,655. If your pay sits below $111,954, you are in the bottom quarter for the role nationally and may be underpaid; if it is above $190,655, you are in the top quarter. Organization size and location move these numbers a lot, so benchmark against nonprofits of similar budget and region before drawing conclusions.