Nonprofit organizations differ from profit-driven operations in many ways, but it is still essential for a nonprofit to have a strong organizational structure and management team. Nonprofit organizations are typically run by an executive director or a board of directors, which rely on assistant directors to help oversee all of the organization's major functions. Assistant directors are often the people who take a first look at any issues or requests intended for the executive. They assist the executives by performing high-level clerical duties such as taking messages, writing and proofreading letters and memoranda, and handling communications. If the organization is smaller, the assistant director may be responsible for managing its finances, keeping its books and handling payroll operations.Given the many different kinds of nonprofit organizations, it is often the case that no two employers have precisely the same requirements for assistant director applicants. As a general rule, a bachelor's degree in a field relevant to the nonprofit's focus is required. Most also desire experience working with nonprofit organizations, preferably in a management role. With the large number of responsibilities that assistant directors have, applicants for the position must be hardworking, have multitasking abilities, and have strong communication skills for engaging with clients and vendors, as well as employees and upper management.