Executive Director, Nonprofit (Travel & Education)

Career Guide

Leads a nonprofit focused on travel and education by setting strategy, overseeing programs and budgets, ensuring safety and compliance, and representing the organization to donors, partners, and the board to advance mission impact.

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Key Responsibilities

Set organizational strategy aligned to mission and board directives
Lead fundraising, major gifts, and grant development
Oversee program design, safety, and quality for travel/education offerings
Manage budgets, financial reporting, and audits
Build and manage executive team and organizational culture
Report to and collaborate with the board of directors
Develop partnerships with schools, universities, and international NGOs

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Chief Executive Officer/President (Nonprofit)

Executive Director at a larger or national organization

Foundation Executive Director

Transition Opportunities

Chief Operating Officer (Nonprofit)

Development/Fundraising Director

Management Consultant (Social Impact)

Program Director, International Education

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Major-gift fundraisingNonprofit financial management and GAAPBoard governance and bylaws complianceTravel risk management and duty of careImpact measurement and evaluation

Development SuggestionsComplete AFP fundraising training and duty-of-care/risk training via the Forum on Education Abroad; take a nonprofit finance course and serve on a board finance/governance committee to apply budgeting and oversight.

Market Intelligence Report

Executive Director, Nonprofit (Travel & Education) is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$75,000-$110,000

Mid Level$110,000-$170,000

Senior Level$170,000-$260,000

Growth Trend

stable: demand steady; openings tied to org growth, retirements, and turnover

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange)AFS Intercultural ProgramsAmerican Councils for International Education

Industry Sectors

EducationNon-Profit & Social ImpactTravel & Tourism

Recommended Next Steps

Pursue CFRE (or start with AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising) and build a major-gift pipeline case study.

Complete a Nonprofit Financial Management course (e.g., Coursera/UC Davis) and create a program budget with restricted funds.

Join NAFSA or the Forum on Education Abroad, attend sector conferences, and seek mentorship from sitting Executive Directors.