Charity Fundraiser CV Example
A charity fundraiser CV showcases your ability to plan campaigns, engage donors, and raise funds to support charitable causes.
Recommended template: Modern
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Include specific fundraising targets you have met or exceeded with monetary figures.
- Highlight experience across different fundraising channels such as events, corporate, and digital.
- Showcase your ability to build and maintain long-term donor relationships.
- Demonstrate passion for the cause and understanding of the charity sector landscape.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Modern template and customise it for your social services role.
How to Write Your Charity Fundraiser CV
A charity fundraiser CV should demonstrate your ability to generate income, build relationships, and communicate a compelling case for support. Charities want fundraisers who can deliver results across multiple channels while maintaining ethical standards and genuine passion for the cause. Your CV should quantify your fundraising achievements, describe the strategies you have used, and show your ability to engage donors from individual supporters to corporate partners.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with sections for your profile, experience, education, and skills. Each role should describe the charity, your income target, and the channels you worked across. Follow with quantified achievements — money raised, donors acquired, events delivered. Include a skills section listing your CRM experience, digital capabilities, and event management expertise. Keep the CV to two pages.
CV Format
Choose a professional but approachable template. Fundraising is a relationship-driven profession, so your CV should feel warm and confident. Use clear headings and consistent formatting. Include fundraising totals prominently — they are the first thing hiring managers look for. Save as a PDF.
CV Profile Examples
Senior Fundraiser
Results-driven charity fundraiser with eight years of experience leading multi-channel fundraising campaigns across individual giving, corporate partnerships, and community events. Raised over £3.5M in the last three years for a national health charity, consistently exceeding annual income targets by 15-20%. Skilled in donor stewardship, legacy giving programmes, and fundraising strategy development.
Digital Fundraiser
Digital fundraising specialist with five years of experience growing online income for environmental and animal welfare charities. Expert in email marketing, social media campaigns, and peer-to-peer fundraising platforms, with a track record of increasing digital income by 40% year on year. Proficient in Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and Salesforce CRM for donor segmentation and campaign performance tracking.
Community Fundraiser
Enthusiastic community fundraiser with three years of experience engaging local supporters, organising charity events, and building volunteer networks for a regional hospice. Skilled in public speaking, volunteer coordination, and relationship building, with a genuine passion for connecting communities with causes that matter. Successfully coordinated 25 fundraising events generating over £180,000.
State your fundraising specialism, total income generated, and the types of charities you have worked for. Mention your key channels — events, corporate, digital, legacy — and your approach to donor engagement.
Key Skills for Your Charity Fundraiser CV
Fundraising Strategy
Developing multi-channel fundraising plans that align income targets with organisational objectives and donor engagement opportunities.
Donor Relationship Management
Building and nurturing long-term relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, and grant-making trusts through personalised stewardship.
Event Planning
Organising charity events from concept to delivery, managing budgets, logistics, volunteers, and stakeholder expectations.
Grant Applications
Researching and writing compelling grant applications to trusts, foundations, and public funders to secure project and core funding.
Digital Fundraising
Running online fundraising campaigns using email marketing, social media, crowdfunding, and peer-to-peer platforms to grow digital income.
Budget Management
Setting and managing fundraising budgets, tracking expenditure against income, and reporting financial performance to senior leadership.
Public Speaking
Delivering engaging presentations to donors, corporates, and community groups to inspire support and communicate the charity's mission.
CRM Systems
Using Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar platforms for donor management, campaign tracking, and income reporting.
Work Experience Examples
For each role, state your income target and actual performance. Describe the fundraising channels you managed and the strategies you used. Include the number of donors cultivated, events delivered, or partnerships secured. Charity hiring managers want to see evidence of commercial thinking alongside mission-driven passion.
Senior Fundraising Manager
British Heart Foundation, London
Led a team of five fundraisers delivering a £2.4M annual income target across individual giving, major donors, and corporate partnerships for the national charity.
Responsibilities
- Developed and implemented the annual fundraising strategy, setting income targets by channel and monitoring performance against monthly forecasts.
- Managed relationships with 40 major donors and corporate partners, conducting stewardship visits, producing impact reports, and securing renewed commitments.
- Oversaw the design and delivery of flagship fundraising events including charity galas, challenge events, and community campaigns.
- Led the team's use of Salesforce CRM for donor management, pipeline tracking, and campaign analysis, producing quarterly reports for the fundraising director.
- Recruited, trained, and performance-managed a team of five, fostering a collaborative and target-driven culture.
Achievements
- Exceeded the annual fundraising target by 18% in consecutive years, generating £2.8M and £2.9M against a £2.4M target.
- Secured a three-year £500,000 corporate partnership with a major financial services firm through a tailored employee engagement programme.
- Launched a legacy giving programme that generated £350,000 in pledged bequests within its first year of operation.
Community Fundraiser
St Catherine's Hospice, Crawley
Coordinated community fundraising activities across West Sussex, building relationships with local supporters, businesses, and community groups.
Responsibilities
- Organised and delivered community fundraising events including sponsored walks, quiz nights, and collection days, managing budgets and logistics.
- Recruited, trained, and supported a network of 60 volunteer fundraisers to run independent events and collections on behalf of the hospice.
- Engaged local businesses through workplace giving schemes, sponsorship opportunities, and charity of the year partnerships.
- Managed social media channels for community fundraising campaigns, creating content that drove engagement and donations.
Achievements
- Grew community fundraising income by 25% year on year, raising £220,000 in the final year of the role against a £180,000 target.
- Built a volunteer fundraiser network from scratch, recruiting 60 active volunteers who collectively contributed over 2,000 hours annually.
Education & Qualifications
List your degree and any fundraising-specific qualifications such as the Institute of Fundraising certificate. Include CRM training, digital marketing certifications, and any charity governance qualifications. Mention membership of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.
Institute of Fundraising Certificate
Professional qualification in fundraising principles, ethics, and practice recognised across the UK charity sector.
Chartered Institute of Fundraising Membership
Professional membership demonstrating commitment to ethical fundraising standards and continuing professional development.
CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing
Marketing qualification relevant for fundraisers managing digital campaigns, brand communication, and audience engagement.
BA / MA in a relevant discipline
Degree qualification providing analytical, communication, and project management skills applicable to charity fundraising.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I show fundraising success on my CV?
What if I am new to charity fundraising?
Should I mention the causes I have worked for?
How long should a charity fundraiser CV be?
More Social Services CV Examples
Care Assistant CV
A care assistant CV should highlight your compassionate approach to supporting individuals with their daily living needs and personal care.
Carer CV
A carer CV demonstrates your dedication to providing emotional and practical support to individuals who need assistance with daily activities.
Community Nurse CV
A community nurse CV highlights your clinical skills and your ability to deliver healthcare in home and community settings.
Family Carer CV
A family carer CV translates your experience of caring for a family member into transferable skills valued by employers in healthcare and social care.
Housing Manager CV
A housing manager CV demonstrates your ability to oversee property portfolios, manage tenancies, and ensure housing compliance and tenant satisfaction.
Housing Officer CV
A housing officer CV highlights your ability to manage tenancies, resolve housing issues, and ensure compliance with housing policies and legislation.