Birmingham Nonprofit Executive Jobs & Leadership Guide
Birmingham anchors Alabama’s largest nonprofit community, with strengths in healthcare, human services, the arts, and philanthropy. It is a market where a handful of large institutions and long-standing foundations set the pace. This guide maps it: what leadership pays, the major employers, and where to find senior roles.
- Central Alabama market: the Birmingham metro and surrounding counties form Alabama’s largest nonprofit community.
- Average nonprofit Executive Director salary in Birmingham: $115,276, with a typical range of $96,523 to $139,819 (Salary.com).
- Healthcare-led sector, anchored by large medical institutions, with strength in human services, the arts, and philanthropy.
- Anchor employers include Children’s of Alabama, United Way of Central Alabama, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.
- The largest institutions pay above the ED range; smaller and rural organizations pay below it.
The Birmingham Nonprofit Landscape
Birmingham’s nonprofit sector is led by healthcare, human services, and the arts, with major foundations shaping the philanthropic landscape. Use the directory links below to research specific organizations and their 990 data.
What Nonprofit Leadership Pays in Birmingham
Nonprofit Executive Director, Birmingham: average $115,276, typical range $96,523 to $139,819. Source: Salary.com, Birmingham. The largest institutions pay above this range; smaller and rural organizations pay below it.
| Role | Birmingham Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Director / CEO | $96,523 to $139,819 (avg $115,276) | Salary.com, Birmingham |
| Source: Salary.com, Birmingham. Benchmarks for additional roles (COO, CFO, Chief Development / Advancement Officer, Director of Programs, and others) should be confirmed against Cause IQ / Form 990 data for comparable Birmingham organizations before you rely on them. | ||
Top Nonprofit Employers in Birmingham
Healthcare & Human Services
Children’s of Alabama
Pediatric Healthcare · BirminghamA major nonprofit pediatric hospital and one of the region’s largest employers.
United Way of Central Alabama
Human Services · BirminghamThe area’s human-services anchor.
Arts & Philanthropy
Birmingham Museum of Art
Arts & Culture · Birmingham
An anchor cultural institution in the Birmingham arts sector.
Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Arts & Culture · Birmingham
An anchor cultural institution in the Birmingham arts sector.
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Community Foundation · Birmingham
A leading regional grantmaker.
A starting list of anchor organizations. Use the directory links below to find specific Birmingham nonprofits and their 990 data.
Recruiters & Search Partners for Birmingham Nonprofit Leadership
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1
ExecSearches.com
Nonprofit executive job board, career coaching, and search support. Post a Birmingham role or browse senior openings.
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2
Alabama Association of Nonprofits (ALAN)
The statewide association for sector connections, training, and its job board.
Browse Nonprofit Jobs & Nearby Markets
Browse current openings on ExecSearches.com and the ALAN job board.
Key Career Resources for Birmingham Nonprofit Leaders
Directories & Sector Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
The average is about $115,276, with a typical range of $96,523 to $139,819 (Salary.com). The largest institutions pay above that range; smaller and rural organizations pay below it.
Anchors include Children’s of Alabama in healthcare and United Way of Central Alabama in human services, plus the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.
Healthcare, human services, and the arts, with major foundations shaping philanthropy. It is Alabama’s largest nonprofit market.
Start with ExecSearches.com for senior nonprofit roles and the Alabama Association of Nonprofits job board, and use ProPublica to research organizations.
