What Is a Director of Community Impact?

Businesses and organizations can have a profound influence on their communities. The values that a company stands for, the ways in which it operates, and the strategic decisions it chooses based on those values can make a significant difference in both the lives of its employees and in its communities.

A director of community impact takes the needs of the community, leadership, company, and employees into consideration and works to develop strategies that can best serve all stakeholders. Learning how to tackle such a difficult task successfully can be challenging. By investing in higher education, such as a Master of Arts (MA) in Social Impact, graduates can hone the skills they need to take on challenging and fulfilling leadership roles.

What Does a Director of Community Impact Do?

The way that companies operate in the world is under greater scrutiny than ever. For many organizations, success is no longer measured solely by how much money they make, but by the impact they have on the lives of others. Whether it be the quality of life of their employees or the role they play in their local communities, the bar for many companies has risen.

Pursuing progress and improving strategic systems within an organization is challenging. The role of a director of community impact involves engaging in collaboration, communication, education, and representation between a company and the community. This can involve consulting with members of the community to steer business decisions or make recommendations to other members of the leadership team, introducing the public to plans and strategies, or acting as a go-between.

On a day-to-day basis, the role a director of community impact plays can vary based on the business plans and the needs of the public. Their duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Communicating with community members, members of the leadership team, boards of directors, and partners to find common ground
• Fundraising, grant writing, and formulating business strategies
• Collaborating with business partners, members of the organization, and other community or agency representation
• Delegating and overseeing the success of different programs
• Educating or providing information and resources

Achieving progress that works for separate groups can be challenging. While learning how to identify common ground and formulate strategies that are agreeable to both parties can be difficult, it can also be rewarding. As members of the leadership team in a nonprofit or a private sector organization, directors of community impact have an opportunity to build connections and work toward a positive future by looking beyond the business to its employees and the local community.

How to Become a Director of Community Impact

As they occupy leadership roles and often act as the face of a company, directors of community impact must have a solid educational foundation, practical experience, and valuable leadership skills. For many companies, finding the right person to be the public face of the company can be challenging.

While becoming a director of community impact requires no specific certification or educational benchmark, it can be a challenging role that requires highly educated candidates. For that reason, many of them choose to complete an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree in social impact. Prior experience in a specific field or industry can be valuable, making it easier for directors to have realistic expectations about what can be done or the direction in which to steer the organization.

For graduates interested in senior roles in social impact, investing in higher education can be highly beneficial. By cultivating valuable leadership, administrative, project management, and strategic communication skills, graduates can better position themselves to take on a challenging role as a director and aim to make a difference.

Career Outlook and Salary for Directors of Community Impact

A director of community impact can be essential for maintaining both a healthy company culture and a strong relationship with the local community. Depending on the size of the company and its industry, the decisions that it makes can greatly influence those around the director.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social and community service managers, including directors of community impact, earned a median annual salary of $77,030 as of May 2023, with overall employment in the field projected to grow by 8% between 2023 and 2033.

Comparatively, Payscale reported a median annual salary of about $71,300 as of October 2024 for directors of community engagement. Salaries can vary due to a range of factors, including company size, location, and an individual’s level of education and workplace experience.

Pursue a Career in Leadership as a Director of Community Impact

As companies consider their impact on the world, the demand for skilled leaders able to help them navigate their role in their communities grows. For graduates looking for a fulfilling career in leadership, becoming a director of community impact can be a great way for them to make a positive difference and reach their professional goals.

Pursuing an advanced education, such as the online MA in Social Impact from Claremont Lincoln University, helps future leaders build the specialized knowledge and skills they need to become effective leaders. A fully online program using interactive learning platforms and taught by skilled professionals, the MA in Social Impact was designed to prepare graduates for the challenges of the real world. Discover how you can make a valuable difference as a director of community impact.