Showcasing Transferable Skills for a Fundraising Role

It’s been a minute since I’ve written and after taking a little break, I’m back with my diary entries as I feel like the last few weeks I have been on a learning curve myself! Don’t worry I will share my experiences, thoughts and learning take aways as I get back into writing.

With this entry I really wanted to come back with a bang and I wanted to write something that really will help candidates that are currently in the market or wanting to make a pivot into the charity sector, specifically into the fundraising world

I’ve had a number of chats with candidates in the 7 months that I’ve been with @Charity People and one of the main questions is how to effectively demonstrate transferable skills from previous experiences.

For me, the key is understanding how your past experiences and skills translate into value for Fundraising Managers when they see your CV or application.

Here’s my top 5 tips for how you can highlight your transferable skills and position yourself as a strong candidate for a fundraising role:

1. Communication: The Heart of Fundraising

One of the most critical skills in fundraising is the ability to communicate effectively. Whether you're writing grant proposals, sending donor emails, or speaking at events, clear and persuasive communication is essential. If you’ve previously worked in marketing, sales, or customer relations, this is your moment to showcase how you’ve honed your messaging to drive engagement and build lasting relationships.

Highlight specific examples where your communication skills contributed to a successful campaign, deal, or partnership. Did you help a previous employer secure a major contract? Use this as a demonstration of your ability to build rapport and trust – key elements in fundraising.

2. Relationship Building: Moving Beyond A One Time Transaction

A fundraiser’s role goes beyond one-time donations; it’s about cultivating long-term partnerships. If you’ve worked in roles where relationship management was key – whether that’s account management, business development, or HR – you already possess the foundation to excel in fundraising.

Showcase examples of how you’ve nurtured client or stakeholder relationships over time. Explain how you’ve identified needs, addressed concerns, and built mutual trust. Fundraising is just as much about listening and understanding donor motivations as it is about securing financial commitments.

3. Project Management: Turning Strategy into Action

Fundraising officers often juggle multiple campaigns, events, and donor relationships simultaneously, so strong organisational and project management skills are essential. If you’ve managed projects or teams in the past, you’ll have the ability to plan, execute, and follow through on complex initiatives.

Use examples from your previous roles to illustrate how you’ve coordinated projects, managed budgets, and led teams to achieve strategic goals. Don’t be afraid to talk numbers – quantifiable achievements show potential employers that you have a results-driven mindset.

4. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: The Human Element

Empathy is often underestimated in fundraising, but it’s a critical component. Understanding the motivations, passions, and concerns of donors can significantly influence their willingness to give. If you’ve ever been in a customer-facing role or worked in community outreach, you likely have a strong ability to empathize with others and respond to their needs.

Highlight situations where you’ve applied emotional intelligence to create connections, whether in resolving conflicts or creating a positive, collaborative environment. These skills will serve you well when building relationships with donors who often want to feel a personal connection to the cause.

5. Problem-Solving: Finding Creative Solutions

In fundraising, not every strategy works out as planned. Being able to pivot, think on your feet, and find creative solutions to challenges is invaluable. Perhaps in a previous role, you found a way to boost engagement when typical strategies weren’t delivering.

Fundraisers often face similar challenges when trying to reach financial goals or engage reluctant donors. Show how your problem-solving abilities can lead to innovative and creative strategies for fundraising success.

You Got This

There you have it - 5 tips to get you started and to think about how to frame and reframe those amazing transferable skills and experiences you have gained so far. These things, yes it's specific to fundraising but in all honesty, lots of jobs will require these exact same skills, it's all about understanding the VALUE of it and how it can be used in that specific job.

Let me know of your thoughts and if you have any to share or add to the list,

Until next week,

Yours

Seema - The Fundraising Recruitment Consultant

[email protected]

07732 902349