Resume guide · Job Zone 4

Fundraisersresume guide.

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. A strong Fundraisers resume shows speaking, active listening and persuasion, and names the tools you have worked with, such as Salesforce software, Structured query language SQL and Microsoft Outlook.

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01Also called

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Contract Grant WriterDevelopment AssociateDevelopment OfficerDirect Response ConsultantFundraising ConsultantGrant CoordinatorPhilanthropy OfficerPrincipal Gifts OfficerAnnual Giving CoordinatorAnnual Giving Officer

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
SpeakingVery highAdvanced
Active ListeningVery highAdvanced
PersuasionVery highAdvanced
Reading ComprehensionVery highAdvanced
WritingVery highAdvanced
Critical ThinkingHighAdvanced
NegotiationHighIntermediate
CoordinationHighIntermediate
Social PerceptivenessHighIntermediate
Service OrientationHighIntermediate

03Knowledge areas

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  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Administration and Management
  • Communications and Media
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administrative
  • Mathematics
  • Psychology

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
  2. Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
  3. Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
  4. Create or update donor databases.
  5. Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
  6. Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
  7. Develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs.
  8. Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.
  9. Conduct research to identify the goals, net worth, charitable donation history, or other data related to potential donors, potential investors, or general donor markets.
  10. Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.

05Software and tools

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27 tools across 14 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Customer relationship management CRM software7
  • Salesforce softwareHotIn demand
  • Blackbaud The Raiser's EdgeIn demand
  • Blackbaud eTapestry
  • Constant Contact
  • AudienceView Ticketing
  • Blackbaud Luminate CRM
  • SofterWare DonorPerfect
+ 2 more
Data base user interface and query software5
Desktop publishing software2
Electronic mail software2
Enterprise resource planning ERP software2
Data base reporting software1
  • SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
Graphics or photo imaging software1
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
Instant messaging software1
  • Twitter
Internet browser software1
Office suite software1
Presentation software1
Spreadsheet software1
Web page creation and editing software1
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
90% of surveyed workers. Others report Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (5%) and Master's Degree (5%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 4 · Considerable preparation
Usually a four-year degree and several years of related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with what you built. For a Job Zone 4 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "Salesforce software, Structured query language SQL, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office software" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show active listening and persuasion, not just speaking. Active listening and persuasion rank close to speaking for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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