How to Target Your Resume for a Nonprofit Board of Directors Nomination

Molly Thompson reports:

"Adapt your resume to emphasize your flexibility, resourcefulness, previous nonprofit experience and any special skills you have that will benefit the specific nonprofit group you're seeking to join...Research the nonprofit organization to learn its priorities, focus and requirements. Consider how these correspond to your specific skills, abilities and experience...Include your name, address and contact information at the top of your resume, typically centered like a company letterhead...Build a simple, concise resume with no more than three or four sections. Limit the variety of type fonts used and be consistent throughout your resume in terms of tense, style and format. Emphasize skill sets and experience, rather than just providing a chronological listing of previous jobs...Create sections about your skills and abilities, your volunteer and nonprofit experience, and your professional work experience. Each section should highlight the aspects of your experience that are most readily transferable to the nonprofit world. Focus on projects you have led, cooperative and problem-solving skills and fundraising experience...Quantify your experience so that major projects you have accomplished in the business world are understandable in a nonprofit context. Focus on projects that raised or saved large quantities of money, since both are typical concerns of nonprofit boards...List and describe your experience leading and coordinating volunteer efforts, skills that are needed on nonprofit boards of directors. Heading up committees is also useful experience to note, because directors at large nonprofits typically are expected to head up one of the group's fundraising, organizational or recruiting committees."