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Charity director

Alternative titles for this job include Charity manager, managing director

Charity directors plan ways to develop a charity's services, generate income and raise awareness of its work.

Average salary (a year)

£30,000 Starter

to

£55,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 39 a week

You could work

9am to 5pm attending events or appointments

How to become a charity director

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • working towards this role
  • volunteering
  • applying directly

University

You could do a business management foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree to learn the general management skills needed for this job.

Another option is to do a degree in the subject area you want to do charity work in, and work your way up into management and director roles.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels for a degree

More information

College

You could do a college course like a Level 4 or 5 Diploma in Business Management.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More information

Work

You could start out in the voluntary sector as a charity fundraiser or administrator and work your way up into management after getting experience and training.

Volunteering and experience

Volunteering is often a good way to start. You could volunteer with organisations that promote the causes you're interested in and then apply for paid roles as you get more experience.

With further training on the job, you may be able to move up to senior positions within your charity.

Direct application

If you want to apply for this type of job directly, you'll need a lot of experience at senior management level, and of building partnerships and fundraising.

You'll also need a lot of knowledge of the challenges faced by your charity's service users, what can be done to help them and a very strong commitment to the charity's aims.

More information

Career tips

Excellent presentation and confident public speaking skills are essential.

Further information

You can find out more about working in the charity sector from The National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • business management skills
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • leadership skills
  • the ability to motivate and manage staff
  • the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
  • financial management skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties may include: 

  • planning policies and raising income
  • representing the charity at meetings, events and in the media
  • managing relationships with partners, funding bodies and service users
  • presenting information about the services your charity offers
  • writing funding bids and negotiating contracts
  • making sure policies meet changes in law and regulations
  • meeting regularly with the senior management team and trustees

Working environment

You could work in an office, in the community or at events.

Your working environment may be travelling often and spending nights away from home.

Career path and progression

You could move to a bigger charity, work for an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), or become a consultant, advising charities and government on policy.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a charity director right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to Higher Education Diploma in Business and Management

  • Provider: WALSALL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 09 September 2019
  • Location: WALSALL

BA (Hons) Business and Management (Top up)

  • Provider: WAKEFIELD COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2019
  • Location: Wakefield
Find courses near you

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