How to become a charitable organisation manager or director

Official title: Charitable organisation managers and directors

Also called: Manager, Director, Charity manager, Charity director, Divisional director, Director of charity, Relationship manager, Director of fundraising, Donor development manager, Area secretary, General secretary, National organiser

Charitable organisation managers and directors plan, organise, co-ordinate and direct the activities of organisations in the charitable and not-for-profit sector.

Main tasks

• Plans, organises, coordinates and directs the resources of a special interest or charitable organisation
• Helps to formulate and implement charitable organisations' policies and ensures these meet legal and statutory provisions
• Represents their charity in consultation and negotiation with government, employees, trustees and other bodies
• Generates income by co-ordinating funding bids, organising appeals, and managing relationships with funders
• Stimulates public interest by providing publicity, giving lectures and interviews and organising appeals
• Directs or undertakes the preparation, publication and dissemination of reports and other information pertaining to the organisation

How to become one

Entry is generally via career progression from a related occupation (e.g. charity coordinator) and relevant experience of the charitable sector is often required. In some fields a relevant degree or equivalent qualification may be required.

Pay · Outlook

• About 55,300 people work in this job now, and about 60,700 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)

Related jobs

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Questions people ask

How do I become a charitable organisation manager or director?

Entry is generally via career progression from a related occupation (e.g. charity coordinator) and relevant experience of the charitable sector is often required. In some fields a relevant degree or equivalent qualification may be required.

Is a charitable organisation manager or director a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 55,300 to about 60,700 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a charitable organisation manager or director?

Usually. 73% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03