Nonprofit Manager Resume examples & templates
Copyable Nonprofit Manager Resume examples
Ever wondered what it takes to transform passion into meaningful community impact? Nonprofit managers do exactly that every day. They're the behind-the-scenes architects who balance mission-driven work with practical business acumen, turning limited resources into maximum social good. It's a career that's evolved dramatically over the past decade — what once might have been seen as "charity work" now demands sophisticated leadership skills and strategic thinking comparable to any corporate executive role.
The sector itself is booming, with nonprofit employment growing at nearly 8.5% since 2017 (faster than most private industries!). Today's nonprofit managers face a fascinating mix of challenges: navigating post-pandemic funding shifts, embracing digital transformation, and meeting growing demands for transparency and measurable outcomes. The most successful leaders in this space aren't just passionate advocates — they're savvy professionals who understand financial management, donor psychology, and how to build sustainable organizations. For those looking to build a career with purpose, the nonprofit landscape offers more diverse opportunities than ever before.
Junior Nonprofit Manager Resume Example
Olivia Martinez
Portland, OR 97205 • (503) 555-8742 • omartinez@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/oliviamartinez • github.com/oliviam
Emerging nonprofit professional with 1+ years of experience in program coordination and development. Skilled in grant writing, volunteer management, and community outreach with a passion for social justice causes. Adept at building relationships with diverse stakeholders and managing multiple projects simultaneously. Seeking to leverage my experience in program coordination to grow into a management role at a mission-driven organization.
EXPERIENCE
Program Coordinator – Portland Community Alliance (PCA) • Portland, OR • January 2023 – Present
- Manage day-to-day operations of youth mentorship program serving 47 at-risk teens from underserved neighborhoods
- Coordinate and train team of 18 volunteer mentors, increasing retention rate by 36% through improved onboarding process
- Collaborated with Development Director to secure $37,500 in grant funding from local foundations and businesses
- Create and distribute monthly newsletter (560+ subscribers) with 42% open rate (14% above industry average)
- Developed tracking system for program outcomes, collecting data that supported successful grant renewal
Development & Outreach Intern – Urban Housing Solutions • Portland, OR • May 2022 – December 2022
- Assisted with planning and execution of annual fundraising gala that raised $83,712 (exceeding goal by $8,700)
- Drafted social media content across 3 platforms that increased follower engagement by 27%
- Researched and identified 23 new potential funding sources for affordable housing initiatives
- Supported Executive Director in community presentations and partner meetings (sometimes on short notice!)
Volunteer Coordinator (Part-time) – Feed Portland • Portland, OR • September 2021 – April 2022
- Recruited and scheduled volunteers for weekend food distribution events serving 150+ families weekly
- Created volunteer handbook and orientation materials that reduced training time by half
- Managed volunteer database and sent thank-you communications to recognize contributions
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Minor in Nonprofit Management
Portland State University • Portland, OR • Graduated: May 2022
GPA: 3.78/4.0 • Dean’s List (6 semesters)
Relevant Coursework: Program Development, Grant Writing Fundamentals, Nonprofit Financial Management, Community Organizing, Social Justice & Advocacy
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) • Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration • In Progress
Grant Writing Certificate • Portland State University Continuing Education • Completed March 2023
SKILLS
- Program Management & Evaluation
- Volunteer Recruitment & Coordination
- Grant Writing & Reporting
- Budget Management (small-scale)
- Community Outreach & Engagement
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Microsoft Office Suite & Google Workspace
- Salesforce CRM (basic)
- Social Media Management
- Donor Database Management (Little Green Light)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Board Member • PSU Alumni Mentorship Program • August 2022 – Present
Volunteer • Oregon Food Bank • Monthly since 2020
Mid-level Nonprofit Manager Resume Example
Samantha J. Rodriguez
Chicago, IL 60614 • (773) 555-0182 • samantha.rodriguez@email.com
linkedin.com/in/samanthajrodriguez • Available for hybrid or remote roles
Dedicated nonprofit manager with 5+ years of experience growing mission-driven organizations through strategic planning, grant management, and community engagement. Successfully secured over $475K in funding while building sustainable programs that reached 1,200+ underserved youth. Known for building strong partnerships across public and private sectors while mentoring diverse teams to achieve shared goals.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Program Director | Chicago Youth Alliance | Chicago, IL | Jan 2021 – Present
- Lead 3 community-based programs serving 650+ at-risk youth annually, managing a program budget of $320K
- Secured $275K in new grant funding by identifying opportunities, writing proposals, and building relationships with 8 new foundation partners
- Developed and implemented comprehensive program evaluation system that improved participant retention by 27% and strengthened impact reporting to funders
- Manage team of 6 program coordinators and 35+ volunteers; created standardized training program that reduced onboarding time from 3 weeks to 9 days
- Collaborate with Executive Director on strategic planning initiatives, including the organization’s first 3-year growth plan (drove 17% YOY growth in first year)
Program Manager | Neighborhood Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | Mar 2019 – Dec 2020
- Oversaw after-school literacy program serving 200+ elementary students across 4 Chicago neighborhoods
- Managed annual budget of $175K while tracking program expenses and preparing quarterly financial reports
- Co-wrote successful $125K grant proposal to expand reading intervention services; program showed 42% improvement in reading scores among participants
- Recruited, trained, and supervised 22 part-time program staff and volunteers
- Established new partnerships with 3 local schools and 2 community centers to expand program reach
Development Coordinator | Midwest Family Services | Chicago, IL | Aug 2018 – Feb 2019
- Assisted with planning and execution of annual fundraising gala that raised $86K (12% increase from previous year)
- Maintained donor database of 500+ contacts and generated monthly giving reports
- Drafted grant reports and collaborated on 6 small grant applications totaling $75K in requests
- Created and distributed monthly email newsletter to 1,200+ subscribers (achieved 24% open rate)
EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration – Nonprofit Management Concentration
DePaul University, Chicago, IL – 2018
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Minor in Spanish
University of Illinois at Chicago – 2016
Study Abroad: Universidad de Sevilla, Spain (Spring 2015)
CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) – Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, 2020
Grant Writing Certificate – The Grantsmanship Center, 2019
DEI in Nonprofit Leadership – CompassPoint, 2021
SKILLS
- Program Development & Management
- Grant Writing & Management
- Budget Administration
- Strategic Planning
- Staff Supervision & Mentoring
- Community Outreach & Engagement
- Volunteer Coordination
- Fundraising & Donor Relations
- Impact Measurement & Evaluation
- Salesforce & Raiser’s Edge
- Microsoft Office Suite & Google Workspace
- Fluent in Spanish (speaking & writing)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Board Member, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Chicago, 2020 – Present
Volunteer ESL Tutor, Adult Literacy Program, 2017 – 2019
Senior / Experienced Nonprofit Manager Resume Example
Margaret (Meg) A. Holloway
meg.holloway@email.com • (512) 555-8746 • Chicago, IL 60611
linkedin.com/in/megholloway • twitter.com/meghollowayNP
Mission-driven nonprofit leader with 11+ years of progressive experience spanning program development, fundraising, and strategic planning. Proven track record of securing $2.7M+ in grant funding and building cross-sector partnerships that expand organizational impact. Known for bringing stakeholders together to solve complex social challenges while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Executive Director • Community Health Alliance • Chicago, IL • 2020-Present
- Oversee $3.2M annual budget and team of 24 staff members delivering health services to underserved communities across Chicago’s south side
- Secured $1.5M in new foundation funding by developing innovative maternal health program that reduced preterm births by 27% in target neighborhoods
- Led strategic planning process resulting in 5-year roadmap that expanded services to 4 additional neighborhoods while maintaining 92% program retention rates
- Restructured board governance model, recruiting 6 new board members with diverse backgrounds and implementing committee structure that improved board engagement by 40%
- Navigated pandemic response by transitioning 65% of services to virtual platforms while maintaining client satisfaction rates above 88%
Director of Programs • Midwest Housing Initiative • Chicago, IL • 2017-2020
- Managed portfolio of 5 housing assistance programs serving 1,200+ families annually with combined budget of $1.8M
- Collaborated with local government agencies to secure $875K in CDBG funding for new affordable housing pilot program
- Improved program evaluation systems by implementing Salesforce database that reduced reporting time by 34% and improved data accuracy
- Supervised team of 11 program managers and case workers, implementing professional development program that reduced staff turnover from 29% to 12%
Program Manager • Youth Futures Coalition • Austin, TX • 2014-2017
- Designed and launched after-school mentorship program serving 200+ at-risk youth across 7 Title I schools
- Recruited and trained 75+ volunteer mentors, achieving 85% retention rate through improved onboarding and recognition programs
- Wrote successful grants totaling $325K from local foundations and corporate sponsors
- Established performance measurement framework that demonstrated 32% improvement in academic outcomes for program participants
Development Associate • Capital Area Food Bank • Austin, TX • 2012-2014
- Managed donor database of 3,000+ individual contributors and coordinated annual giving campaign that raised $178K (22% increase over previous year)
- Planned and executed 4 fundraising events annually, including signature gala that netted $87K
- Created monthly email newsletter that improved donor retention by 18%
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Master of Public Administration • University of Texas at Austin • 2012
Concentration in Nonprofit Management • GPA: 3.8
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology • University of Wisconsin-Madison • 2010
Minor in Business Administration • Dean’s List (6 semesters)
Certifications:
Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) • 2016
Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) • 2019
Leadership Chicago Fellow • 2021
SKILLS
- Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
- Grant Writing & Foundation Relations
- Program Design & Evaluation
- Board Governance & Management
- Budget Development & Financial Oversight
- Staff Leadership & Team Building
- Community Engagement & Partnership Development
- Public Speaking & External Communications
- CRM Systems (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge)
- Federal & State Grant Compliance
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Board Member • Chicago Nonprofit Leadership Council • 2021-Present
Volunteer Grant Reviewer • Chicago Community Trust • 2018-Present
Mentor • Women in Nonprofit Leadership • 2019-Present
How to Write a Nonprofit Manager Resume
Introduction
Crafting a resume for a Nonprofit Manager position requires a delicate balance between showcasing your business acumen and highlighting your passion for social impact. With nonprofits receiving dozens (sometimes hundreds) of applications for a single position, your resume needs to stand out from the crowd while clearly demonstrating you understand the unique challenges of the sector. I've helped hundreds of nonprofit professionals land interviews over my career, and I'm sharing what actually works — not just theory.
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your nonprofit resume clean and professional. Most hiring managers at foundations and NGOs spend just 7.4 seconds scanning a resume initially!
- Stick to 1-2 pages (1 page for under 8 years experience, 2 pages for more seasoned professionals)
- Use standard section headings: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education
- Choose readable fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10-12pt
- Include white space — cramming text makes your resume look desperate
- Save as a PDF unless specifically asked for another format (preserves formatting)
When applying to larger nonprofits, consider adding a "Metrics & Impact" subsection under each role. Funders increasingly demand measurable outcomes, and showing you think this way gives you an edge.
Profile/Summary Section
Your summary should be 3-5 lines max and hit three key points: your nonprofit experience level, core management strengths, and mission alignment. Skip the objective statement — they're outdated and waste valuable space.
For example: "Community development professional with 6+ years managing teams and programs at education-focused nonprofits. Successfully secured $478K in grant funding while reducing program delivery costs by 18%. Passionate about creating sustainable youth mentorship models in underserved communities."
Professional Experience
This is where many nonprofit resumes fall short. Don't just list responsibilities — show outcomes!
- Start bullets with strong action verbs (Managed, Developed, Secured, etc.)
- Quantify wherever possible — exact numbers are more believable (raised $127,850, not "over $100K")
- Highlight both program impact AND operational efficiency
- Include experience with diverse stakeholders (board members, donors, community partners)
- Mention grants by name if they're well-known in your field
If you've worked at tiny organizations where you wore many hats, group your bullets by function rather than listing a dozen random tasks. For example: "Program Management," "Fundraising," and "Volunteer Coordination."
Education and Certifications
List degrees in reverse chronological order. For nonprofit roles, relevant certifications can be just as valuable as degrees. Some to consider including:
- Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP)
- Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certificate in Nonprofit Management
If you're active in sector-specific associations like AFP, NTEN, or BoardSource, mention them here too.
Keywords and ATS Tips
Most midsize and large nonprofits use applicant tracking systems to filter resumes before human eyes ever see them. Scan the job description and make sure your resume includes key terms — but don't just stuff keywords randomly.
- Match the exact phrasing used in the job posting
- Include software mentioned (Raiser's Edge, Salesforce NPSP, GrantHub)
- Mention specific funding types you've worked with (federal grants, major gifts, corporate sponsorships)
- Use standard section headings that ATS systems recognize
Industry-specific Terms
Showcase your nonprofit fluency by naturally incorporating sector terminology:
- Logic models and theory of change
- Capacity building
- Donor stewardship
- Board governance
- Program evaluation
- Constituent relationship management
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I've reviewed thousands of nonprofit resumes, and these errors keep showing up:
- Being vague about fundraising results (be specific about amounts and methods)
- Focusing only on mission while ignoring management skills
- Including outdated volunteer work from 10+ years ago
- Using excessive nonprofit jargon without demonstrating results
- Forgetting to mention experience with financial oversight and budgeting
Before/After Example
Before: "Responsible for managing team members and ensuring program success."
After: "Led cross-functional team of 7 staff to exceed program goals by 23%, while reducing turnover from 32% to 8% through implementation of peer mentoring system and flexible scheduling."
The difference? Specificity, metrics, and a glimpse into HOW you achieved results. This approach transforms your resume from a job description into a compelling story of leadership and impact.
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Nonprofit Manager resume
- Cross-functional relationship building with donors, volunteers, and board members
- Stakeholder communication that bridges different perspectives and priorities
- Crisis management during funding gaps or unexpected program challenges
- Team leadership in resource-constrained environments
- Coalition-building with community partners and peer organizations
- Budget prioritization when facing competing mission-critical needs
Hard skills for your Nonprofit Manager resume
- Grant writing and proposal development (secured $275K in federal funding)
- Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT donor database management
- Program evaluation using Logic Model framework
- QuickBooks Nonprofit accounting and financial reporting
- Volunteer management systems (Better Impact, VolunteerHub)
- Google Workspace & Microsoft 365 administration
- Salesforce NPSP (Nonprofit Success Pack) customization
- 501(c)(3) compliance and board governance procedures
- Budget forecasting and cash flow analysis for restricted funds