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NGO directors are in charge of running the organization. They give employees direction and take care of different administrative tasks. This position is very involving and you may often find your working hours extending beyond the traditional 9-5 hours.
While a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in business, marketing, or a similar field is beneficial, it is not essential. In fact, only 62.5% of NGO directors have a bachelor’s degree and only 15.4% have a master’s degree. In place of an educational background, recruiters will look for a strong background in the area of the organization’s purpose. So if the NGO is focused on health, having a strong background in the health field would be relevant and beneficial.
This position will require excellent project management skills. So show recruiters that you have successfully managed a wide variety of projects. If you can include the size of the teams you managed, this will make your resume even stronger.
Career progression and promotions show recruiters that not only are you dedicated to the field but that you have a strong work ethic and valuable skills that previous recruiters have found deserving of a higher position.
The following tips for Non-Profit Director resumes are based on insights from hiring managers at leading non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity. These tips will help you craft a compelling resume that showcases your skills, experience, and impact in the non-profit sector.
Fundraising is a critical aspect of a Non-Profit Director's role. Showcase your ability to secure funding by including specific examples of successful fundraising campaigns you have led:
Quantify your fundraising achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact:
Raised over $3.5 million in philanthropic donations during my tenure, enabling the organization to expand its programs and reach an additional 10,000 beneficiaries annually.
A resume summary is an optional section that appears at the top of your resume, just below your contact information. It's a brief overview of your professional experience, skills, and achievements that highlights your suitability for the role you're applying for. While a summary is not strictly necessary, it can be a useful way to provide context and showcase your most relevant qualifications, especially if you're a career changer or an experienced executive.
Keep in mind that a resume summary is different from an objective statement, which is an outdated practice that focuses on your career goals rather than what you can offer to the employer. Instead, a well-crafted summary should be tailored to the specific position and organization you're targeting, emphasizing the value you can bring to the role.
Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you show hiring managers what you've accomplished in previous roles, and how that translates to the non-profit director position you're applying for. Here are some key tips to make sure your work experience section is as impactful as possible:
When describing your previous roles, use powerful action verbs that showcase your non-profit leadership and impact. Consider verbs like:
Notice how these examples pair a strong verb with a specific accomplishment and metric. That's much more impactful than simply listing responsibilities like 'oversaw fundraising' or 'managed volunteers'.
When writing your resume for a non-profit director position, the education section is an important place to showcase your relevant degrees and certifications. This section should be concise and highlight your most impressive educational achievements that relate to the role you're applying for.
The skills section on your non-profit director resume is a critical component that highlights your key abilities and expertise. It's an opportunity to showcase your unique value proposition and demonstrate how you can contribute to the organization's mission. When crafting your skills section, consider the following tips to make it stand out and effectively communicate your qualifications.
Here are examples of popular skills from Non-Profit Director job descriptions that you can include on your resume.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Non-Profit Director job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.
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