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Development Director, Fundraiser
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Fund development professionals are involved in a broad range of programs to raise awareness of and support for charities and other not-for-profit organizations. They may work with governing boards, management teams and volunteer committees to prepare an organization for fundraising, or to develop fund development plans and strategies. They also may:
Some development professionals work on a single program or campaign for a specific purpose, such as a new wing in a hospital or a research program, for a year or longer. Others work on several projects and programs at the same time.
Fund development professionals may specialize in areas such as annual giving or major gifts. They may also specialize in:
Fund development professionals spend some time working alone writing proposals, researching prospective donors and analyzing data. However, most of their time is spent meeting people on the phone and in groups. These discussions and presentations may be held during the day, after regular work hours or on weekends. Therefore, working days can be long and irregular. During a campaign or concerted fund development program, the work can be hectic. Travel may be required.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in co-ordinating information to prepare and oversee preparation of reports, briefs, bibliographies, speeches, presentations, Web sites and press releases, and to develop and organize workshops, meetings, ceremonies and other events for publicity, fund-raising and information purposes
Interest in gathering, researching and preparing communications material for internal and external audiences, and in assisting in the preparation of brochures, reports, newsletters and other material
Interest in persuading to initiate and maintain contact with the media, and to arrange interviews and news conferences; and in co-ordinating special publicity events and promotions to internal and external audiences
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Fund development professionals need:
They should enjoy coordinating information, finding innovative ways to handle problems and taking a methodical approach to researching information. They should take pleasure in networking and building relationships, and have a passion for working for organizations that benefit individual lives and the community.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 110 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 22, 2024 and Dec 21, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Assist in the preparation of brochures, reports, newsletters and other material | 61 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Develop marketing strategies | 59 |
| Tasks: Advise clients on advertising or sales promotion strategies | 57 |
| Tasks: Co-ordinate special publicity events and promotions | 55 |
| Tasks: Answer written and oral inquiries | 48 |
| Tasks: Gather, research and prepare communications material | 47 |
| Attention to detail | 45 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 44 |
| Tasks: Conduct online marketing, E-commerce and Website promotions | 44 |
| Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years | 44 |
Fund development professionals must be:
Fund development professionals come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Most employers prefer to hire those with related post-secondary education or extensive paid or volunteer experience, preferably in a not-for-profit organization. Training through a professional association or post-secondary school, or Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification (see Certification Requirements) is an asset.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) offers a Fundamentals of Fundraising course and a more advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive refresher course. The Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) and Mount Royal University offer training in conjunction with AFP.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
The CFRE Certification Board administers Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification, which is the accepted standard for major fundraising associations such as the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, the Association of Lutheran Development Executives and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
Applicants for CFRE certification must have at least 5 years of fundraising experience and pass a certification exam.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Fund development professionals are employed by all types of charitable, not-for-profit and public sector organizations such as:
Experienced fund development professionals in larger organizations may advance to campaign director or fund development director positions. They may also specialize in specific areas (see Duties). Advancement may require moving to another location or employer.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
2016 NOC: 1123
78.2% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Salaries for fund development professionals vary considerably depending on the responsibilities of the position, the size and industry sector of the organization, and its budget for development work.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $17.74 | $48.08 | $29.92 | $28.42 |
| Overall | $19.95 | $56.41 | $35.94 | $34.62 |
| Top | $20.19 | $83.58 | $42.83 | $40.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $68,595 |
|---|---|
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $111,682 |
| Construction | $71,883 |
| Manufacturing | $64,863 |
| Wholesale Trade | $60,575 |
| Retail Trade | $51,750 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $83,108 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $56,928 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $71,998 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $70,479 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $51,327 |
| Educational Services | $67,262 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $55,020 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $40,246 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $59,001 |
| Public Administration | $87,171 |
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Calgary chapter website: community.afpnet.org/afpcalgaryareachapter
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Edmonton chapter website: www.afpedmonton.ca
Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) website: www.ahp.org
Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE) website: www.alde.org
Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) website: www.cagp-acpdp.org
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) website: www.cfre.org
Charity Village website: charityvillage.com
Volunteer Alberta website: www.volunteeralberta.ab.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
