Starting a Career in Fund Raising

Q. I’m a stay-at-home mom who’s been out of the work force for more than 10 years. I’m extremely interested in fund-raising, especially researching potential donors. Can you give me some advice on writing a résumé and searching for potential employment opportunities?

A. Assuming you do not already have prior experience in nonprofit fund raising, you might want to hold off on finding a paying job for a little while longer, and instead join a board or volunteer at the type of organization for which you’d like to eventually work, recommends Stephen Pratt, director of learning communities at Bridgestar, a project of the Boston nonprofit consulting organization Bridgespan that helps charities recruit senior managers and board members. “Service on a fund-raising committee will build your skills, your résumé, and your contacts in the field,” he says. To find board-service opportunities, call your local United Way, as they often sponsor events for prospective board members. Or check out online services, such as those run by Bridgestar or BoardNet, that might help you find a board placement. Mr. Pratt also recommends connecting to your local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, in order to make professional contacts and learn about industry trends.

If, however, you already have some fund-raising experience, the next step is to prepare yourself mentally to jump-start your new career. Carole Martin, a veteran interview coach in Burlingame, Calif., who works with nonprofit clients, says she was once a stay-at-home mom returning to work after more than a decade. Some employers, she cautions, may be wary of hiring someone who has been out of work for so long. “You really need to know and be able to explain to a potential employer why you have decided that now is the time for you to return to the work force,” Ms. Martin says. She suggests scripting a convincing statement about your goals and about your intentions of remaining on the job; practice reciting this statement often, she suggests, so that you feel confident with it during your interview.

As for the résumé, there are definitely some tricks you can use to minimize the glare of your work-history gap, says Thia Hamilton, deputy director of Women Work, a nonprofit group in Washington focused on career training for women. She recommends using what is called a “functional” résumé rather than a traditional, chronological one. Functional résumés are written to emphasize skills, not employment history, she says, and thus don’t draw attention as to whether those skills were developed at a paid job or in the process of managing home and family, or during volunteer activities.

On a functional résumé, dates and chronology are replaced with a presentation of “skill areas” most relevant to the career path you are pursuing. You could list “fund raising” as your first skill area, then under it briefly explain any experience you may have gleaned over the years in volunteer roles or elsewhere, such as, “more than eight years of experience in organizing and managing fund-development activities for local school district” or “raised more than $X dollars in campaign resources for X candidate.”

You might also think about including “human relations skills” or “communication skills” on such a résumé, suggests Ms. Hamilton.

“Think of those family conflicts you’ve had to break up or the negotiations you’ve had to make with contractors and repair people. Those count,” she says. And chances are as a mom you’ve planned your share of birthday parties and soccer picnics, so go ahead and highlight them under “organizing skills” or “event planning.” Any sales experience and persuasive or entrepreneurial abilities — which would come in handy as a fund raiser — could be listed under “personal strengths and attributes,” Ms. Hamilton suggests.

If you need help with crafting a functional résumé, Women Work offers free workshops and other job-search support through its local member programs. Go to it Web site, click on “Resources,” and then “National Program Directory” to find a program near you. You can also call the national office at (202) 467-6346 for a personal program referral.

For additional tips, check out previous Philanthropy Careers articles on writing résumés and cover letters. Several books also delve deeper into your exact dilemma, such as Expert Résumés for People Returning to Work, by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark (Jist Works, 2003, $16.95), The Career Change Résumé, by Kim Isaacs and Karen Hofferber (McGraw-Hill Trade, 2003, $12.95), and The Résumé Makeover: 50 Common Problems With Résumés and Cover Letters — And How to Fix Them, by John J. Marcus (McGraw-Hill Trade, 2003, $12.95).

Got a question about job hunting, recruiting, or managing in the nonprofit world? Send it to us at hotline@philanthropy.com.