What should I include on a nonprofit fundraiser resume?

A strong nonprofit fundraiser resume should include a targeted summary, relevant skills section with industry keywords, quantified experience bullets showing measurable impact, and education or certifications. Focus on results and metrics rather than just listing responsibilities.

How do I make my nonprofit fundraiser resume ATS-friendly?

Use a clean, single-column format with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills). Include keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume. Avoid tables, graphics, and unusual fonts. Use a standard file format like PDF and ensure your contact information is in plain text.

What are the most important skills for a nonprofit fundraiser resume?

The most important skills vary by specific role and employer. Review the job description carefully and match your skills section to the required qualifications. Include both technical/hard skills and relevant soft skills. Use the exact terminology from the job posting to pass ATS keyword filters.

Nonprofit Fundraiser Resume Example (2026)

Travis Harmon

Boston, MA | [email protected] | (555) 374-6128 | linkedin.com/in/travisharmon

Summary

Nonprofit Fundraiser with 7 years of experience in individual giving, corporate partnerships, and special events for health and human services organizations. Raised $14M in total career giving, grew a 2,800-donor pipeline, and achieved a 78% donor retention rate through personalized stewardship strategies.

Technical Skills

Fundraising: Major Gifts, Annual Fund, Corporate Sponsorships, Planned Giving, Peer-to-Peer Campaigns, Matching Gifts
Donor Relations: Prospect Research, Moves Management, Stewardship Plans, Gift Acknowledgment, Donor Recognition
Events: Gala Planning, Auction Management, Golf Tournaments, Virtual Fundraising Events
Tools: Raiser's Edge, DonorPerfect, Salesforce NPSP, Classy, Constant Contact, Wealth Engine

Experience

Senior Development Officer - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Apr 2021 – Present

Manage a portfolio of 185 major gift prospects ($10K+), personally soliciting and closing $3.2M in gifts annually with a 91% solicitation success rate

Grew mid-level donor segment ($1K-$9.9K) by 34% over 2 years through a targeted upgrade strategy, adding $480,000 in annual recurring revenue

Planned and executed the annual gala raising $1.1M with 650 attendees, increasing net revenue by 22% year-over-year through corporate sponsorship growth

Achieved a 78% donor retention rate across the full portfolio, outperforming the sector average of 45% through quarterly touchpoint stewardship plans

Development Coordinator - United Way of Massachusetts Bay Jun 2017 – Mar 2021

Coordinated the annual workplace giving campaign across 120 corporate partners, raising $4.8M with a 6% year-over-year growth rate

Managed donor database of 2,800 records in Raiser's Edge, maintaining 98% data accuracy through monthly audit and cleanup processes

Produced 36 donor impact reports and 4 annual reports, increasing donor engagement email open rates from 22% to 38%

Organized 8 donor recognition events annually, hosting 400+ supporters with a 4.8/5.0 average satisfaction score

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Nonprofit Management - Northeastern University 2017

Why This Resume Works

Leads with dollar amounts raised and portfolio size, which a

Leads with dollar amounts raised and portfolio size, which are the primary measures of fundraiser performance.

Highlights donor retention rate against sector benchmarks, s

Highlights donor retention rate against sector benchmarks, showing stewardship effectiveness rather than just acquisition.

Demonstrates revenue diversification across major gifts, mid

Demonstrates revenue diversification across major gifts, mid-level donors, corporate partnerships, and events.

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

State your total career giving, donor portfolio size, and retention rate. Development directors want to see revenue capacity and relationship management skills.

Skills

Name fundraising channels (major gifts, annual fund, planned giving), CRM platforms (Raiser's Edge, Salesforce NPSP), and prospect research tools (Wealth Engine).

Experience

Every bullet needs a dollar figure, donor count, or growth percentage. Include solicitation success rates and retention metrics alongside total giving amounts.

Education

A degree in nonprofit management, communications, or business is common. List CFRE certification, which is the gold standard credential in fundraising.

Key Skills for Nonprofit Fundraiser Resumes

Based on analysis of thousands of job postings, these are the most frequently required skills:

Major Gift Solicitation Annual Fund Management Corporate Partnerships Donor Retention Prospect Research Moves Management Stewardship Strategy Raiser's Edge Salesforce NPSP Event Fundraising Planned Giving Peer-to-Peer Campaigns Grant Support Donor Database Management Impact Reporting Wealth Screening

Common Mistakes on Nonprofit Fundraiser Resumes

⚠Listing fundraising duties without specifying dollar amounts - Listing fundraising duties without specifying dollar amounts raised or donor portfolio sizes.
⚠Omitting donor retention rates, which matter as much as acqu - Omitting donor retention rates, which matter as much as acquisition numbers to development leadership.
⚠Not naming the CRM platform (Raiser's Edge, DonorPerfect, Sa - Not naming the CRM platform (Raiser's Edge, DonorPerfect, Salesforce NPSP) you use daily.
⚠Failing to distinguish between fundraising channels (major g - Failing to distinguish between fundraising channels (major gifts, annual fund, events) in your experience.
⚠Describing events without including attendance numbers, net - Describing events without including attendance numbers, net revenue, and year-over-year growth comparisons.

Nonprofit Fundraiser
Resume Example

Travis Harmon

Why This Resume Works

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

Skills

Experience

Education

Key Skills for Nonprofit Fundraiser Resumes

Common Mistakes on Nonprofit Fundraiser Resumes

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