Are you good at getting people to do things for you? If so, it means you have the natural talent to be an excellent development director. Basically, your work would be fundraising—you know, getting people to give your organization money. You’d work with non-profits or foundations in reaching out to potential donors, as well as government officials and civic leaders who could be very helpful in your work. It’s a career largely about networking—so you’ll be writing press releases, using social media tools, and doing lunches and dinners where you can form strong connections with people interested in your cause. Let’s put it this way—if you love parties and can use Facebook like a pro, then bam—this is your gig.
The Details
Charities and other organizations that help people are usually nonprofits, which means they need to raise money through private donations—and dedicated development directors can help them reach their goals.
Development directors have tons of opportunities—according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States.