RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Fundraising Manager Resume into a Donor Magnet
Spot the biggest resume pitfalls and fix them fast to win interviews at leading NGOs.
How This Page Helps
This page helps Fundraising Managers identify and correct the most damaging resume mistakes, ensuring their experience shines and passes ATS filters.
Identify the top five resume errors that cause hiring managers to skip your application
Learn concrete, measurable ways to rewrite each section
Get ATS‑friendly formatting and keyword guidance
Access a free mini‑workshop to transform your current resume instantly
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Impact MetricsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge your fundraising effectiveness
- ATS algorithms miss quantitative keywords like dollar amounts
- Lacks credibility compared to peers who showcase results
How to fix
- Add specific numbers (e.g., $2M raised, 25% donor growth)
- Use percentages, time frames, and benchmarks
- Start each bullet with an action verb followed by the result
❌ Before
Managed annual fundraising events and cultivated donor relationships.
✓ After
Led 12 fundraising events, increasing annual donations by $2.3M (+30%) and expanding donor base by 150 new supporters.
ATS Tip
Include keywords such as "raised", "donor acquisition", "grant revenue", and exact dollar figures.
Detection Rules
Bullet lacks numbers or percentages
Verb phrase ends without a measurable outcome
Resumly Tip
Use our Impact Calculator to turn vague achievements into quantifiable results.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skim for results, not responsibilities
- ATS scores lower when achievements aren’t highlighted
- Makes you appear as a task‑executor rather than a leader
How to fix
- Reframe each duty as an accomplishment
- Show how your actions drove revenue or donor retention
- Tie achievements to organizational goals
❌ Before
Responsible for donor communications and event logistics.
✓ After
Designed and executed a multi‑channel donor communication strategy that boosted donor retention by 18% and increased event attendance by 22%.
ATS Tip
Embed action‑oriented keywords like "strategized", "optimized", "expanded" alongside fundraising terms.
Detection Rules
Bullet starts with "Responsible for" or "Managed" without outcome
No mention of results or impact
Resumly Tip
Our Achievement Builder suggests outcome‑focused rewrites for each duty.
Non‑Standard Section TitlesLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may not map unconventional headings to expected fields
- Hiring managers may miss key information
- Reduces overall readability
How to fix
- Use common headings: Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Volunteer Experience
- Keep headings bold and capitalized
- Avoid creative titles like "My Story" or "What I Do"
❌ Before
My Journey
✓ After
Professional Experience
ATS Tip
Standard headings align with most ATS parsers, ensuring your data is captured correctly.
Detection Rules
Section title deviates from industry‑standard list
Heading includes personal branding language
Resumly Tip
One‑click auto‑rename to ATS‑friendly headings.
Incorrect Date FormattingMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to recognize employment periods
- Gaps appear ambiguous to recruiters
- Inconsistent dates look unprofessional
How to fix
- Use MM/YYYY format for all positions
- Align dates to the right margin for easy scanning
- Ensure consistency across all entries
❌ Before
Jan 2019 – Present
✓ After
01/2019 – Present
ATS Tip
MM/YYYY is universally recognized by major ATS platforms.
Detection Rules
Date includes month name or year only
Mixed formats within the same resume
Resumly Tip
Auto‑format dates to MM/YYYY with a single click.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Volunteer Experience
Naming: FirstName_LastName_FundraisingManager
Consistency
Length: 1–2 pages (400–800 words)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, professional header with phone and email
- Write a 2‑sentence summary highlighting fundraising expertise and impact
- List core competencies with keywords like "grant writing" and "donor stewardship"
- Showcase achievements with quantified results for each role
- Include relevant certifications (e.g., CFRE)
- Add volunteer leadership roles that demonstrate sector commitment
- Proofread for spelling, grammar, and consistent formatting
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: raised funds, donor acquisition, grant writing, stewardship, campaign management, donor retention, fundraising strategy
Heading Format: Use standard headings like Professional Experience, Education, Skills
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Fundraising Manager resume text
- Add quantified results
- Replace generic duties with achievement‑focused bullets
- Standardize headings
- Optimize fundraising keywords for ATS
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