Development Director Resume Example
Looking for a Development Director resume that gets interviews? This comprehensive guide provides a proven resume example, expert writing tips, and ATS optimization strategies specifically for Development Director roles in nonprofit. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting out, use these examples to craft a compelling resume.
Professional Summary Example
A strong summary is your 10-second pitch. Here's an example for Development Director positions:
"Senior Development Director with 10+ years of progressive experience leading nonprofit initiatives. Expert in development, fundraising, major gifts, with demonstrated success building and mentoring high-performance teams. Track record of delivering multi-million dollar projects and driving organizational transformation."
Work Experience Examples
Use these bullet point examples to showcase your achievements:
Senior Development Director
[Company Name]
- Led enterprise-wide development transformation, impacting 500+ employees
- Managed and scaled team from 3 to 15 professionals, establishing hiring and training processes
- Developed strategic partnerships with key vendors, negotiating contracts worth $2M annually
- Improved fundraising framework adopted company-wide, improving quality metrics by 50%
- Presented quarterly reports to C-suite executives on major gifts initiatives and ROI
Development Director
[Previous Company]
- Promoted twice in 4 years based on exceptional development performance
- Implemented cross-functional team of 10 to deliver flagship fundraising project
- Created department restructuring, reducing operational costs by 30%
- Mentored 5 junior team members, 3 of whom were promoted within 18 months
Skills to Include
Balance technical expertise with soft skills for a well-rounded Development Director resume.
Technical Skills
Soft Skills
Formatting Tips
Use a clean, ATS-friendly format with clear section headings
Keep your resume to 1 page (entry/mid) or 2 pages (senior/executive)
Use bullet points starting with strong action verbs
Include quantified achievements with specific numbers and percentages
Incorporate development, fundraising, major gifts keywords naturally throughout
Use consistent formatting for dates, company names, and job titles
Save as PDF to preserve formatting unless specifically asked for Word
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using generic descriptions instead of Development Director-specific achievements
Listing job duties instead of accomplishments with measurable results
Ignoring ATS optimization and keyword placement
Including outdated skills or irrelevant experience
Using an unprofessional email address
Forgetting to tailor the resume for each application
Including personal information like age, marital status, or photo
Complete Your Development Director Application
Development Director Resume FAQs
Common questions about writing a resume
A Development Director resume should include: contact information, a professional summary highlighting development and fundraising expertise, work experience with quantified achievements, relevant skills section, education, and certifications. Tailor each section to the specific nonprofit role you're targeting.