Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Capital Campaign • Fundraising • Mission Statement

Resource Development

Term from Nonprofit Organizations industry explained for recruiters

Resource Development is a professional field focused on helping nonprofit organizations secure the funding and support they need to operate. It's essentially fundraising and relationship-building, but with a more strategic approach. This role involves finding and maintaining different sources of money and support, including donations from individuals, grants from foundations, corporate partnerships, and special events. Think of it as being similar to sales and marketing in the business world, but specifically for charitable causes and nonprofit organizations.

Examples in Resumes

Led Resource Development efforts resulting in $2M annual fundraising growth

Managed Resource Development and Fund Development campaigns across multiple programs

Created successful Development strategy leading to 40% increase in donor retention

Typical job title: "Resource Development Professionals"

Also try searching for:

Development Director Fund Development Manager Director of Advancement Development Officer Resource Development Coordinator Fundraising Manager Grant Writer

Where to Find Resource Development Professionals

Professional Associations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy for our organization?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should cover analyzing current funding sources, identifying new opportunities, creating diverse revenue streams, setting realistic goals, and developing metrics to measure success. They should mention donor relationships, grant writing, and special events planning.

Q: Tell me about a time you had to turn around a struggling development program.

Expected Answer: Look for examples of leadership, strategic thinking, and practical solutions. They should discuss how they analyzed problems, implemented changes, and measured improvements in fundraising results.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you maintain relationships with major donors?

Expected Answer: Should discuss regular communication strategies, personalized approaches, showing impact of donations, proper acknowledgment procedures, and ways to keep donors engaged with the organization.

Q: What strategies do you use for donor retention?

Expected Answer: Should mention thank-you protocols, regular updates, impact reports, donor recognition programs, and ways to make donors feel valued and connected to the mission.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What experience do you have with fundraising databases or donor management systems?

Expected Answer: Should be familiar with basic donor tracking, data entry, generating reports, and understanding the importance of maintaining accurate donor records.

Q: How would you plan a small fundraising event?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic event planning knowledge, including budgeting, timeline creation, volunteer coordination, and understanding of event logistics and promotion.