RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Grant Writer Resume Mistakes From Blocking Your Funding Career
Identify and correct the most common errors that keep hiring managers from seeing your grant‑writing expertise.
How This Page Helps
Help grant writers create error‑free, ATS‑optimized resumes that showcase their fundraising success and win more interviews.
Spot hidden ATS blockers
Learn industry‑specific language
See before‑and‑after examples
Apply proven formatting rules
Access a quick‑fix workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Quantifiable ImpactHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge your success
- ATS often looks for numbers
- Leaves resume vague
How to fix
- Add specific dollar amounts, grant totals, or success rates
- Use action verbs followed by metrics
- Tie results to organizational goals
❌ Before
Managed grant proposals for various nonprofits.
✓ After
Secured $2.3M in grant funding across 12 proposals, increasing program budget by 18%.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like “$X million”, “grant dollars”, “funded”.
Detection Rules
No numbers or percentages
Only generic verbs present
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags missing metrics and suggests where to insert them.
Using Non‑Specific Job TitlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may not match your role to grant‑writing keywords
- Recruiters skim for exact titles
How to fix
- Use standard titles like “Grant Writer”, “Development Associate – Grants”
- Add a brief subtitle with specialization
❌ Before
Program Coordinator
✓ After
Grant Writer – Education Funding Specialist
ATS Tip
Match title to common industry terms.
Detection Rules
Title does not contain ‘grant’ or ‘writer’
Title is generic
Resumly Tip
Suggests industry‑standard titles based on experience.
Poor Formatting of Dates and LocationsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may misread date ranges
- Hiring managers can’t follow career timeline
How to fix
- Use MM/YYYY format
- Place city, state after organization name
- Align dates to the right
❌ Before
Jan 2018 – Present
✓ After
01/2018 – Present
ATS Tip
Consistent date format improves parsing.
Detection Rules
Dates written as words
Inconsistent spacing
Resumly Tip
Standardizes date and location formatting automatically.
Overloading with Grant Jargon Without ContextMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Non‑grant HR may not understand acronyms
- ATS may not recognize uncommon terms
- Reduces readability
How to fix
- Spell out acronyms on first use
- Explain specialized terms briefly
- Balance technical language with results
❌ Before
Managed RFPs, CFDA, and F&A negotiations.
✓ After
Managed Requests for Proposals (RFPs), navigated the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), and negotiated Facilities & Administrative (F&A) rates.
ATS Tip
Use both full term and acronym for keyword capture.
Detection Rules
Acronyms without definition
Unexplained industry terms
Resumly Tip
Detects undefined acronyms and offers expansions.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Selected Grants & Funding, Education, Certifications, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_GrantWriter_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1–2 pages (max 2 for senior roles)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear professional title
- Include at least three quantified achievements per role
- Incorporate grant‑writing keywords
- Format dates as MM/YYYY
- Avoid undefined acronyms
- Keep resume to 1–2 pages
- Save as PDF with searchable text
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: grant writing, fundraising, proposal development, grant management, budget oversight, $ amount, awarded, nonprofit, federal grants
Heading Format: Use standard headings like Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current grant writer resume text
- Extract and quantify achievements
- Standardize dates and locations
- Replace generic titles with industry‑standard titles
- Define acronyms and add expansions
- Optimize keyword density for ATS
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