Nonprofit Resume—Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

Believing in your employer’s mission is important, but it’s not all you need to be happy at work. Use your nonprofit resume to get a job with the full package. Here’s how.

You want to do something worthwhile—But fuzzy feelings and self-satisfaction don’t pay the bills.

Get the nonprofit job of your dreams by showing that you’re the employee of their dreams by writing one of the best nonprofit resumes they’ve ever seen.

In this guide you'll learn:

• A nonprofit resume example better than nine out of ten.
• How to write nonprofit job descriptions for your resume.
• How to create a nonprofit resume that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a nonprofit job.

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder for free. Start by choosing a resume template.

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My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
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Changing careers? Need a resume for a particular nonprofit job or a more general guide? Check these out for a start:

• Career Change Resume Example
• Public Relations Resume Example
• Pastor Resume Example
• Grant Writer Resume Example
• Program Manager Resume Example
• Career Change Resume Example
• Federal Resume Example
• Stay at Home Mum Resume Example
• Consultant Resume Example
• Entry-Level Resume Example
• No Experience Resume Example
• College Student Resume Example
• Resume Examples for All Professions

Nonprofit Resume Sample to Help You Along

Morgan Bradshaw

Personal Info

Summary

Dedicated executive director with 5+ years’ experience managing nonprofits. Seeking an opportunity to extend Mace Fair’s reach while broadening its support-services. At the Midwest Animal Welfare Alliance, leveraged $9+ million in revenue and created a partnership worth $350,000 a year while increasing capacity by 15%.

Experience

Executive Director

Midwest Animal Welfare Alliance

• Oversaw the consultation and implementation of 11 sets of livestock-handling best practices.
• Spearheaded a range of organizational changes worth over $9,000,000.
• Negotiated new fundraising partnership with Sly Media, slated to bring in $350,000 p.a.
• Directed the design and construction of a shelter capable of housing 450+ domestic animals.

Program Manager

Thompson’s Addiction Support Center

• Organized the Center’s most successful community outreach program to date.
• Led the onboarding of 12 new staff at the Center’s secondary offices.
• Co-developed new protocols that have kept referred in-patient relapse rates down 14%.
• Saved up 100 labor hours per month by streamlining reporting and feedback processes.

Education

MBA, Colorado State University

• Pursued passion for business ethics and social responsibility.
• Worked closely with the nonprofit Macy’s Group for final consultation project.

Accolades

• Recognized at the Colorado Nonprofit Summit for Outstanding Contribution, 2019
• Awarded the Paws/Play Highest Tier Contributor Prize, 2018

Languages

• Ukrainian – Advanced
• Spanish – Intermediate

Key Skills

• Budgeting
• Communication
• Decision making
• Delegation
• Leadership
• Management
• Negotiating
• Persuasion
• Problem solving
• Project management

Here’s how to write something just as good as the executive director resume nonprofit example above:

1. Start With the Right Nonprofit Resume Format

More and more people are looking for work in non-profit organizations, trading in some extra income for a clear conscience. Here’s how you lose: Write a resume that’s cramped, cluttered, and off-putting.

When winning is easy: Make your resume layout neat, tidy, and a pleasure to read through, again and again:

Nonprofit Resume Format

• Use thereverse-chronological format—it’s a resume style recruiters expect and prefer.
• Pick aprofessional-looking resume font like a Noto in 11–12pt.
• Use1-inch resume marginsand space things out—use the whole page.
• When it comes toresume length, submit a one-page resume unless you have many achievements and 7+ years’ experience, in which case go with a two-page resume.
• Use at least theseresume sections: Header, Qualifications Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
• If you’re planning to usefree resume templates you found online, make sure they are ATS-friendly.
• Alwayssave/export your resume in PDF unless asked for something else.

One last thing. Don’t add an address to your resume. Your email address, telephone number, and LinkedIn profile will suffice.

2. Craft a Winning Nonprofit Resume Objective or Summary

Don’t want to be another ho-hum candidate lost in the crowd? Condensing your entire nonprofit career down to 3–4 sentences is easier than you think.

Got experience? Start with a resume summary statement. Use:

1. One adjective (efficient, reliable, highly motivated)
2. Job title (program manager, consultant, development coordinator)
3. Years of experience (4+, 5+)
4. How you’ll help (what you can achieve for the nonprofit)
5. Most relevant and impressive 2–3 achievements (put numbers to everything you can)

Have a look at these nonprofit resume examples:

Nonprofit Resume Summary Example

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

4. Take Your Education from ‘Meh’ to aReason to Hire You

List just the bare essentials: Degree, school, dates attended. Include an expected graduation date if you’re still at it. Add bullets that point to key skills.

This nonprofit resume example shows how:

Nonprofit Resume Sample Education Section

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

For a nonprofit resume that gets interviews:

• Use the nonprofit resume template up above. It’s clear, efficient, and effective.
• Put nonprofit achievementsin your summary, work history, education, and other sections to show you’re who they’re looking for.
• Pick the right nonprofit skills. Study the job ad to find out what the most desirable skills for this particular job are.
• Write a nonprofit cover letter. Use it to showcase your achievements and demonstrate your passion for the role and the organization.

Leave a comment below if you have something to add or any questions to ask. Getting a good nonprofit resume together is a step in the direction of a more meaningful work life. Let us know how you go!

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At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Bart Turczynski’s career advice and commentary have been published by Glassdoor, The Chicago Tribune, Workopolis, The Financial Times, Hewlett-Packard, and CareerBuilder, among others. Bart’s mission is to promote the best, data-informed, and up-to-date career advice through numerous online communities and publications. Bart’s lifelong passion for politics and a strong background in psychology make all the advice he publishes unique and supported by detailed research.

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