Overview
Charity fundraising is a career that combines event management, marketing, donor relations, and a genuine passion for a cause. Junior fundraiser roles at organisations like the Irish Cancer Society, Barnardos, and Age UK require candidates who can organise events, communicate with donors, and use CRM systems to track contributions. For graduates, demonstrating that you have already raised real money is the single most important thing.
Niamh Kelly is a marketing and communications graduate from the University of Galway who completed a 5-month placement at the Irish Cancer Society. Her resume works because it shows measurable fundraising results, volunteer management experience, and digital campaign skills.
What Makes This Resume Work
Fundraising results with specific totals. Raising €48,000 across 8 events is a number that any charity hiring manager can immediately assess. It shows Niamh has experience converting planning into actual donations, which is the fundamental skill of the role.
CRM and donor management experience. Managing communications for 350 individual donors using Salesforce shows Niamh understands the operational side of fundraising, not just the events. Donor retention is critical for charities, and CRM skills are increasingly essential.
Digital marketing with engagement metrics. Creating content that generated 12,000 engagements across Instagram and Facebook shows Niamh can use social media for a purpose, not just post content and hope for the best.
Consistent volunteering over 3 years. Logging 150+ hours with local services demonstrates genuine commitment to the charity sector, not just a convenient internship for the CV.
Key Takeaways
For junior fundraiser roles, lead with the money you helped raise and the number of events you coordinated. Name the CRM system you used and the number of donors or volunteers you managed. If you have digital marketing skills, describe the campaigns and their results. Charities want people who are both passionate and practical, so balance your commitment to the cause with hard numbers showing what you delivered.
