development

CDO (Chief Development Officer) Salary

The CDO (Chief Development Officer) position in nonprofit organizations encompasses fundraising and advancement positions focused on donor relations, grants, and revenue generation. This benchmark data reflects compensation trends from IRS Form 990 filings, providing transparent and verifiable salary information for this critical role.

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CDO (Chief Development Officer)

All U.S. nonprofits

Median Salary

$196,219

Range: $119,194 - $380,419 (10th - 90th percentile)

Strong benchmark (12,541 records, 4,386 orgs)

Based on 4,386 organizations (12,541 positions)

Compensation Distribution

Salary Distribution
P10$119,194
P25$151,175
Median$196,219
P75$268,599
P90$380,419

Understanding CDO (Chief Development Officer) Compensation

The CDO (Chief Development Officer) role is a critical position within nonprofit organizations. Compensation for this position varies significantly based on factors including:

  • Geographic Location: Salaries in major metropolitan areas tend to be higher than in rural regions due to cost of living differences.
  • Organization Size: Larger nonprofits with bigger budgets typically offer higher compensation packages.
  • Sector: Different nonprofit sectors (health, education, social services, etc.) have varying compensation norms.
  • Experience Level: Years of experience and track record significantly impact salary expectations.

About This Data

This benchmark data is sourced from IRS Form 990 filings, which nonprofits are required to submit annually. Form 990 reports compensation for officers, directors, trustees, key employees earning over $150,000, and the five highest-compensated employees earning over $100,000. For general staff positions not covered by Form 990, we supplement with Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data.

Related Job Titles

This position may also be known as: CDO, C.D.O., Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Fundraising Officer, Chief Philanthropy Officer.

Related Roles

These positions are in the same peer group and may have similar compensation profiles:

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