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Fundraiser
Resume Example & Template

A complete fundraiser resume, written for the role: summary, experience bullets and skills you can read here and edit in the builder, plus what 42 live job postings for the role ask for.

Built for job seekers
Role
Fundraiser
Industry
Non-Profit
Experience Level
Mid Level
Key Skills
fundraising, donations, development

Example fundraiser resume. The person and employers are fictional.

Grace Nakamura

Major Gifts Officer, CFRE · Minneapolis, MN

Summary

CFRE-certified major gifts officer with 9 years in nonprofit development across education and human services. Manages a portfolio of 140 donors capable of $10K+ gifts, raised $2.8M last year against a $2.4M goal, and closed three first-time gifts of $100K or more.

Experience

Major Gifts Officer, Northstar Children's Foundation

Feb 2021 – Present

Minneapolis, MN

  • Manage a portfolio of 140 prospects and donors at the $10K-$250K level; raised $2.8M in FY25 against a $2.4M goal, 117% of target.
  • Moved 38 donors through the moves management cycle in Raiser's Edge NXT (identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship), completing 160 donor visits a year.
  • Closed 3 first-time gifts of $100K+ and a $500K multi-year pledge for the early literacy campaign, partnering with the executive director and board members on asks.
  • Rebuilt donor stewardship with impact reports and site visits, raising major donor retention from 68% to 81% and upgrading 22 donors.

Development Manager, Annual Fund and Events, Lakeshore Community College Foundation

Jun 2017 – Jan 2021

Duluth, MN

  • Raised $1.1M a year through the annual fund, direct mail, email and an annual gala of 350 guests, growing total event revenue 24% in three years.
  • Wrote and managed 12 foundation and corporate grant proposals a year with a 58% success rate, securing $620K.
  • Launched a monthly giving program that grew to 410 donors and $180K in annual recurring revenue; segmented appeals in Blackbaud to lift email response 31%.

Skills

Major gifts and moves management · Donor cultivation and stewardship · Prospect research and screening · Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT · Capital and campaign fundraising · Grant writing · Planned giving basics · Annual fund and monthly giving · Gala and event fundraising · Donor retention analysis · Board and volunteer solicitation · Case for support writing

Education

B.A. in Communications, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2016

Certifications

  • Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
  • AFP member

Why this template works for Fundraisers

This template has been specifically designed with hiring managers and ATS systems in mind, ensuring your application gets noticed.

ATS-friendly layout

Single-column structure that applicant tracking systems read easily

Industry-specific sections

Highlights skills relevant to non-profit

AI-powered suggestions

Get tailored bullet points for your experience

One-click PDF export

Download your resume instantly

Template Details

Industry
Non-Profit
Experience Level
Mid Level
Languages
6 languages

Recommended Skills

fundraisingdonationsdevelopmentdonors

What makes this fundraiser resume work

Keep these when you replace the example with your own experience.

Report dollars raised against a goal

Development directors want to see money raised, the goal you carried and the percent achieved. "Raised $2.8M against a $2.4M goal" tells them more than "managed fundraising activities".

Describe your portfolio and gift level

Number of donors, typical gift size, asks closed and visits per year show how you work. Mention the largest single gift you secured and whether it was a first-time gift.

Name your database and methodology

Raiser's Edge, Salesforce NPSP, Bloomerang and DonorPerfect, and terms like moves management, stewardship and prospect research are what ATS screens and development directors look for.

Add retention and CFRE credentials

Donor retention rate, upgrades and recurring giving growth show that you build relationships, not only close gifts. Put CFRE in the headline since many nonprofits list it as preferred.

What Fundraiser job postings ask for

On October 22, 2026 we checked 42 live postings for fundraiser and closely related titles in the japply.io job index. This is the share of them that mention each skill or qualification. Use the ones you genuinely have, in the same words.

  • Donor relations / stewardship45%
  • Major gifts38%
  • Events38%
  • Capital campaign38%
  • Grant writing26%
  • Prospect research24%
  • Board engagement21%
  • Raiser's Edge / Blackbaud12%
  • Salesforce12%
  • CFRE5%

Create your Fundraiser resume

Three simple steps to a professional resume that gets interviews

Choose This Template

Start with our ATS-optimized fundraiser template

Add Your Information

Fill in your experience, skills, and education

Download as PDF

Export your polished resume and start applying

Fundraiser Resume FAQs

Common questions about creating a professional resume

What skills should I include on my Fundraiser resume?

For a Fundraiser resume, focus on both technical and soft skills relevant to nonprofit. Key skills to highlight include fundraising, donations, development, along with communication, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities. Tailor your skills section to match the specific job description you're applying for.

How do I make my Fundraiser resume ATS-friendly?

To make your Fundraiser resume pass ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), use a clean format without tables or graphics, include relevant keywords like fundraising and donations, use standard section headings, and save as PDF. Our template has an ATS-friendly layout.

How much experience do I need for a Fundraiser position?

Mid-level Fundraiser roles usually require 3-5 years of experience. Emphasize your accomplishments, quantified achievements, and progression in nonprofit. Include specific projects and their impact.

Should I mention remote work preference on my Fundraiser resume?

If applying for a remote Fundraiser position, highlight relevant remote work experience, self-management skills, and proficiency with collaboration tools. For nonprofit roles, mention experience with video conferencing, project management software, and asynchronous communication. Only include remote preference if the job posting specifically mentions remote work options.

What are common mistakes to avoid on a Fundraiser resume?

Common Fundraiser resume mistakes include: using generic descriptions instead of quantified achievements, ignoring keywords like fundraising and donations, poor formatting that fails ATS, and not tailoring the resume to each nonprofit job posting. Always proofread and customize for each application.

What action verbs should I use on my Fundraiser resume?

Strong action verbs for a Fundraiser resume include: Developed, Implemented, Collaborated, Analyzed, Streamlined, Contributed, Executed, and Resolved. Always pair these with quantifiable results. Instead of "managed projects," write "managed 12 concurrent nonprofit projects, delivering 95% on-time." Numbers make your Fundraiser resume significantly more compelling.

Ready to create your Fundraiser resume?

Fill in this fundraiser template with your own experience and download a clean, ATS-friendly PDF. Free to start, no credit card.