Fundraising, Development, and Advancement Explained: Key Differences and Must-Have Skills
Confused by nonprofit job titles like “development,” “advancement,” or “external relations”? Here’s what they actually mean—plus the key skills each role requires.
🧭 Why These Fundraising Titles Can Be So Confusing
In the nonprofit world, we’re not always great at keeping our job titles simple. One organization hires a “Director of Philanthropy,” another needs a “Development Officer,” and a third is looking for a “Fundraising Manager”—and they all want someone to raise money.
But there are differences between these roles. Some are more focused on relationships, others on systems or strategy. And each one calls for a slightly different skill set.
This article breaks down the most common fundraising-related titles—and what skills you actually need to succeed in each.
🎯 Fundraising: The Tactical, Hands-On Role
What it means:
This is the most straightforward term—it covers the day-to-day work of bringing in donations, whether that’s through events, donor outreach, or giving campaigns.
Common titles:
Fundraising Manager
Fundraising Associate
Annual Fund Coordinator
Key skills:
Writing and messaging (appeals, event scripts, campaign pages)
Donor communication (email, phone, social)
Event planning and logistics
CRM or donor database tools (e.g., Bloomerang, Neon, Salesforce)
Basic analytics (measuring donor retention or campaign ROI)
Best fit for:
People who are organized, action-oriented, and comfortable making the ask.
🌱 Development: Building Long-Term Donor Relationships
What it means:
“Development” is all about building and stewarding relationships with donors over time. It’s strategic, long-game fundraising focused on sustainability.
Common titles:
Development Director
Development Officer
Major Gifts Manager
Key skills:
Relationship management
Prospect research and donor segmentation
Case for support writing
Moves management and stewardship planning
Strategic thinking and revenue forecasting
Best fit for:
People who are great at relationship-building and love turning one-time donors into lifelong supporters.
🚀 Advancement: Managing Multiple Channels of Support
What it means:
“Advancement” is a broader umbrella term—often used in education or large institutions—that includes fundraising plus marketing, alumni relations, and public affairs.
Common titles:
VP of Advancement
Director of Institutional Advancement
Chief Advancement Officer
Key skills:
Cross-functional leadership
Strategic planning and goal setting
Communications and branding
Collaboration across departments
Data-driven decision-making
Best fit for:
People with leadership experience who can juggle fundraising, communications, and external visibility at once.
💖 Philanthropy: Mission-Aligned, Donor-Centric Giving
What it means:
This term is often used in more formal or high-net-worth donor environments—like hospitals, foundations, or legacy giving teams. It emphasizes values, generosity, and legacy over pure fundraising.
Common titles:
Director of Philanthropy
Philanthropy Officer
Legacy Giving Manager
Key skills:
Emotional intelligence and deep listening
Estate planning and planned giving knowledge
Values-based storytelling
One-on-one donor cultivation
High-touch stewardship
Best fit for:
Fundraisers who can build deep, values-based relationships and communicate long-term impact.
🌍 Resource Development / Resource Mobilization: Big-Picture Funding Strategy
What it means:
Often used in international development and humanitarian organizations, this term expands beyond cash to include in-kind support, partnerships, and non-monetary assets.
Common titles:
Resource Development Officer
Director of Resource Mobilization
Partnerships and Development Manager
Key skills:
Proposal writing (especially for institutional donors)
Cross-sector partnership development
Budgeting and financial narrative writing
Knowledge of international funding landscapes (e.g., UN, USAID, DFID)
Adaptability and cultural fluency
Best fit for:
Strategists who can secure diverse resources and align them with large-scale missions.
🧩 External Relations: The Connector Role
What it means:
“External Relations” professionals work at the intersection of fundraising, partnerships, media, and government affairs. These roles are often about managing visibility and building trust with key stakeholders.
Common titles:
Chief External Relations Officer
Director of Stakeholder Engagement
VP of Partnerships
Key skills:
Public speaking and media training
Executive communication
Government relations and advocacy
Crisis communication planning
Multi-audience messaging
Best fit for:
Strong communicators who can represent the organization to donors, press, funders, and policymakers alike.
📚 Quick Glossary of Fundraising Titles and Skills
📚 Glossary of Fundraising Titles and Key Skills
Fundraising: Focuses on direct donations, events, and campaigns.
Key skills: Messaging and appeals, event planning, CRM tools, donor outreach, basic analytics.Development: Focuses on long-term donor relationships and retention.
Key skills: Stewardship planning, prospect research, strategic thinking, major gifts.Advancement: Covers fundraising plus marketing, alumni relations, and media.
Key skills: Cross-team leadership, strategic planning, communications, brand oversight.Philanthropy: Centers on values-based giving and legacy donor cultivation.
Key skills: Donor alignment, planned giving, emotional intelligence, high-touch stewardship.Resource Mobilization: Emphasizes global partnerships, grants, and in-kind resources.
Key skills: Proposal writing, budgeting, donor strategy, cross-sector partnerships.External Relations: Manages public presence, media, and key stakeholder trust.
Key skills: Public speaking, executive communications, advocacy, crisis communications, stakeholder relationship-building.
Why the Title—and the Skill Set—Matters
It’s easy to think fundraising is one big bucket, but your title shapes expectations—and your skills define your impact. Whether you’re applying for a job, building a team, or mapping your career path, it pays to know the difference.
📖 Want to Go Deeper?
Understanding titles is just the start. Whether you're shaping your team, planning your career, or navigating your next big ask, it's helpful to see how these roles play out in real life.
If you're exploring nonprofit roles and fundraising strategy, here are three helpful reads:
Fundraiser Burnout Is Real—Here’s How to Prevent It
→ Explore practical tips for staying energized and sustainable in high-pressure fundraising roles.Working with the Board You Have: 10 Realistic Tips for Nonprofit EDs and Fundraisers
→ Learn how to engage your board—no matter how fundraising-shy they may be.
Sheena Link is a grantwriter, nonprofit strategist, and the Co-Founder & COO of PureGrant. After years of writing grant applications, wrangling boards, and managing fundraising teams, she helped build PureGrant to make the grantwriting process faster, smarter, and less painful for nonprofits. She writes about funding strategy, nonprofit careers, and what actually works in real-world development offices. She can be reached at sheena@puregrant.com.