What are your most impactful accomplishments in non-profit program development?

1 Define your impact

The first step to highlighting your accomplishments is to define what impact means for you and your organization. Impact can be measured in different ways, such as the number of beneficiaries, the quality of services, the social or environmental outcomes, the cost-effectiveness, or the sustainability of the program. You should align your definition of impact with the mission, vision, and goals of your non-profit, as well as the expectations and needs of your funders, partners, and stakeholders.

2 Choose your accomplishments

The next step is to choose the accomplishments that best demonstrate your impact and skills. You should select examples that are relevant, recent, and diverse. Relevance means that your accomplishments match the requirements and objectives of the position or opportunity you are applying for. Recent means that your accomplishments reflect your current or most recent level of responsibility and expertise. Diversity means that your accomplishments showcase a range of skills and competencies, such as planning, implementation, evaluation, communication, leadership, innovation, and collaboration.

3 Describe your accomplishments

The third step is to describe your accomplishments in a clear, concise, and compelling way. You should use the STAR method to structure your description: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Situation refers to the context and challenge of the program. Task refers to the goal or objective of the program. Action refers to the specific steps or strategies you took to achieve the goal. Result refers to the impact or outcome of the program, preferably backed by data or evidence. You should also highlight your role and contribution in the program, as well as any challenges or learnings you faced.

4 Quantify your accomplishments

The fourth step is to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. Quantifying your accomplishments means using numbers, percentages, or ratios to show the magnitude, scale, or scope of your impact. For example, you can quantify how many people or communities you served, how much money or resources you saved or raised, how much time or effort you reduced or increased, how much quality or satisfaction you improved or maintained, or how much change or improvement you achieved or influenced. Quantifying your accomplishments can help you stand out and prove your value.

5 Customize your accomplishments

The fifth step is to customize your accomplishments according to the audience and purpose of your communication. You should tailor your accomplishments to fit the format, tone, and length of your resume, portfolio, or interview. For example, you can use bullet points, keywords, or action verbs for your resume, visuals, stories, or testimonials for your portfolio, or stories, examples, or anecdotes for your interview. You should also adapt your accomplishments to address the specific questions, criteria, or expectations of your potential employer, funder, or partner.

6 Showcase your accomplishments

The final step is to showcase your accomplishments with confidence and enthusiasm. You should be proud of your achievements and impact in non-profit program development, and convey that to your audience. You should also be prepared to provide more details, evidence, or feedback on your accomplishments if asked. Showcasing your accomplishments can help you demonstrate your skills, passion, and potential in non-profit program development, and increase your chances of success.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?