12 Fundraising Resume Examples for 2025

In the realm of fundraising jobs, having the right resume is key. This article offers proven examples and strategic tips tailored for fundraising roles. Learn how to highlight your fundraising experience, quantify your achievements, and use industry-specific keywords to stand out to hiring managers. Whether you're an entry-level applicant or a seasoned professional, these practical insights can help you land the fundraising job you seek.

  Compiled and approved by Grace Abrams
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for fundraising roles.

  • Show Impact With Numbers: Use metrics to show impact. Include amounts raised, donor growth, event participation, and fundraising campaign success.

  • Include Skills From Job Descriptions: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are grant writing, donor management systems, event planning, budget management, and prospect research. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Adapt To Digital Trends: Fundraising is moving online. Show experience with online fundraising campaigns and social media engagement.

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Where to place your education

Put your education near the top of your resume if you recently finished a degree. This helps employers see you are new to the field and that your latest schooling is relevant to fundraising. Especially if you studied a subject like non-profit management or marketing, highlighting this education early on can be very useful.

If you have been working in fundraising for years, list your education after your work experience. Focus on degrees and certifications that show skills in organizing events, understanding donor databases, or any training in persuasive communication, as these are key in fundraising. No need to include high school, unless it is your highest level of education.

Highlighting campaign success

For fundraising roles, emphasize key campaign successes. Include metrics like the amount of money raised, the size of donor databases you worked with, and any innovative approaches you led.

Clearly list these achievements under each relevant job. This gives a snapshot of your effectiveness and creativity in securing funds and engaging donors.

Ideal resume length

Keep your fundraising resume to one page if you have less than 10 years of related experience. This length shows you can prioritize information well. Focus on your most recent campaigns and the biggest amounts you have raised. Highlight roles where you led a team or project, as these show leadership skills.

For those with over 10 years of experience, two pages are acceptable. Put your most significant achievements in fundraising at the front. This helps because hiring managers tend to look at the first page more. Ensure good use of space and readability. Include only the most relevant information to make a strong impact quickly.

Showcase donor relationships

In fundraising, building and maintaining donor relationships is critical. Highlight your skills by mentioning specific examples where you succeeded in donor engagement, retention, and growth.

You can include details about successful donor events you organized or campaigns that led to long-term donor commitments. This demonstrates your ability to cultivate and manage essential relationships.

Beat the resume bots

When you apply for fundraising roles, your resume may first be read by software called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). It is important to format your resume so these systems can read it well.

Here are two key things you can do:

  • Use keywords from the job description. For example, if the job requires 'event planning' or 'donor management', make sure those phrases are in your resume.
  • Keep your layout simple. Use a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman and avoid tables or images that the ATS might not understand.

Make your experience relevant

When applying for fundraising jobs, you need to show how your past work relates to raising funds. It is important to match your skills with what the job needs. Describe your past work in a way that shows you can do the fundraising job well.

  • For technical roles, point out specific tools or databases you have experience with, like DonorPerfect or Blackbaud.
  • For senior positions, detail your experience in leading campaigns and the amount of funds you helped raise, such as overseeing a team that raised over $500,000.
  • If you are coming from a different career, link your previous duties with fundraising tasks. An example could be managing events or campaigns, showing how you've mobilized resources effectively.

Show leadership and growth

When you're applying for roles in fundraising, showing your growth through promotions and leadership is key. You need to make it clear that you have the skills to lead a team and drive campaigns to success. Think about the times you've taken charge of a project or been recognized with a higher position.

Here are some ways to show evidence of leadership and promotions:

  • Detail any campaigns where you've led a team, specifying the size of the team and the outcome of the campaign.
  • Mention any titles you've held that demonstrate upward movement, such as 'assistant to team lead' or 'event coordinator to fundraising manager'.

Even if you're unsure about your leadership experience, reflect on moments where you've taken initiative. Did you ever step in when a leader was needed? That counts. Remember, highlighting your ability to inspire others and handle responsibilities is important. Use phrases like 'spearheaded a volunteer drive' or 'guided a peer mentoring program' to show your leadership skills.

Essential skills for successful fundraisers

You need specific skills to excel in fundraising. These are not just important for doing the job well but also for getting past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that many organizations use to scan resumes. Here's a list of skills you should consider including if they match your experience:

  • Grant writing
  • Donor relations
  • Event planning
  • Database management
  • Major gifts fundraising
  • Prospect research
  • Direct mail campaigns
  • Online fundraising
  • Budgeting
  • Marketing

Choose skills that fit the job you want. For instance, if you're aiming for a role focused on digital campaigns, highlight your online fundraising and marketing expertise. You should include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easy for both ATS and hiring managers to see your qualifications quickly.

Remember, you don't need to show every skill listed. Think about the specific tasks you'll be doing and choose the skills that best match those duties. If you have experience with database management, it shows you can handle donor information effectively. If you've done event planning, it shows you can organize successful fundraising events. Tailor your resume to the job description provided, using their language to describe your skills when possible.

Quantify your fundraising impact

When you want to show your skills in fundraising, numbers speak louder than words. It's not enough to say you raised money; you need to show how much and what it did. This helps to make your past work clear and strong.

Think about your past work. Did you run campaigns? How much did you raise? For example:

  • Amount of money raised in a single campaign
  • Number of donors you brought in
  • Percent increase in funds from the previous year
  • Average donation size
  • Cost reduction in organizing events
  • Time saved in planning through new strategies
  • Number of successful grant applications
  • Size of grants won for the organization

When you are unsure of exact numbers, estimate. It's better to give a close idea than none at all. For instance, if you can't recall the exact increase in donors, think about the size of the events you organized and the feedback you got. This can help you estimate the number of new supporters you attracted.

Tailor for company size

When you apply for fundraising roles, consider the size of the organization. For smaller companies and startups, like local nonprofits or new foundations, show you can wear many hats. Highlight your ability to work independently and your experience in building fundraising programs from the ground up.

For larger organizations, such as international charities or well-established institutions like the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society, emphasize your experience in managing and growing existing donor relations and your ability to work within a large team. Use phrases like 'contributed to a team that increased annual donations by 20%' or 'managed key donor relationships leading to a 15% increase in recurring contributions'.

  • For small companies: 'Initiated and led a successful grassroots fundraising campaign'.
  • For larger companies: 'Collaborated with a team to strategize and implement major fundraising initiatives'.
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