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7 Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts Resume Templates with Example

By Ria · Last Updated On September 20, 2026
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This guide shows you how to build an Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts resume that is clear, focused, and easy to review. You will see how strong executive fundraising evidence can be organized so leadership impact is easy to find.

For this role, the strongest resumes connect principal gift strategy with program leadership, complex negotiations, executive advising, staff coaching, stewardship, and portfolio management. They also make room for academic medicine, capital campaign, and donor relationship experience without burying the reader in long paragraphs.

The same complete resume is presented in 7 layouts so you can compare reading order, section balance, and visual emphasis. Use the examples to decide how to present experience, education, certifications, tools, and measurable fundraising results while keeping important keywords easy to scan.

What Makes a Great Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts Resume in 2026

A strong executive fundraising resume shows leadership scope, complex gift strategy, and clear results in a format that senior readers can scan quickly.

Use direct keywords such as principal gifts, transformational philanthropy, capital campaigns, executive advising, staff coaching, stewardship, and portfolio analysis, backed by specific evidence from your experience.

The examples shown below are intentionally detailed to demonstrate a range of experiences, skills, accomplishments and relevant keywords. We prefer detailed resumes as they provide more context to the hiring managers and also help the ATS systems identify relevant qualifications and score your resume better for a match. But the length of a resume is an individual choice. If you want a one page resume, just keep the most relevant experience and information for the job. Note: Resume examples are for educational purposes only. Use only information that accurately reflects your experience and qualifications. References to real organizations do not imply affiliation or endorsement.

#1 Plain Two Column Format Resume Example

A plain two-column structure keeps the career story prominent while giving recruiters a separate area for supporting qualifications.

 
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Resume Snapshot

  • More than 17 years of progressive fundraising leadership
  • Multiple seven- and eight-figure philanthropic commitments
  • Academic medicine, higher education, and nonprofit advancement experience
  • CFRE plus advanced fundraising leadership training

Why This Format Works

  • Two columns separate core experience from supporting skills and credentials.
  • Career progression stays visible while secondary details remain easy to scan.
  • Clear section boundaries help achievements stand apart from education and affiliations.

Best For

  • Executive resumes with broad supporting credentials
  • Long career histories needing compact organization
  • Recruiters comparing leadership and technical details
  • Applications with several certifications and affiliations
  • Readers who prefer clear visual separation

Resume Keywords

  • Principal Gifts
  • Health Sciences
  • complex commitments
  • benchmarks
  • performance evaluation
  • systems
  • communication
  • Stewardship
  • principal gifts staff
  • affiliated advancement teams
  • Face to face visits
  • cultivate
  • national philanthropists
  • research
  • patient care
See all keywords
 

#2 Simple One Column Format Resume Example

A simple one-column flow gives recruiters one direct reading path from executive summary through experience, education, and credentials.

 
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Why This Format Works

  • Single-column reading keeps career progression in a clear top-to-bottom sequence.
  • Full-width sections give leadership achievements room without side-by-side competition.
  • Education and credentials follow experience in an easy, predictable order.

Best For

  • Straightforward executive storytelling
  • Detailed experience that needs full width
  • Traditional recruiter review habits
  • ATS-focused applications with simple structure
  • Readers who value uninterrupted chronology
 

#3 Clean Two Column Sidebar Format Resume Example

A clean two-column sidebar format helps recruiters keep core experience separate from concise supporting information during a fast scan.

 
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Why This Format Works

  • Sidebar separation keeps supporting skills distinct from the main experience narrative.
  • Main-column space lets career progression remain the strongest visual thread.
  • Compact side content makes credentials easier to locate during quick review.

Best For

  • Resumes with many supporting qualifications
  • Senior professionals balancing depth and scan speed
  • Readers checking credentials beside experience
  • Applications needing clear content grouping
  • Career histories with several leadership roles
 

#4 Two Column Format Resume Example

A balanced two-column layout lets recruiters compare the main leadership record with supporting skills and qualifications without losing structure.

 
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Why This Format Works

  • Balanced columns divide leadership evidence from shorter supporting resume sections.
  • Parallel structure reduces scrolling between experience, skills, education, and credentials.
  • Consistent section blocks help recruiters compare achievements across successive roles.

Best For

  • Executive resumes with dense supporting detail
  • Readers comparing several qualification types
  • Applications with strong experience and skills
  • Compact presentation of a long career
  • Structured review of leadership evidence
 
 

#5 Photo Header Two Column Format Resume Example

A photo header above two columns creates a strong personal header while the body still gives recruiters clear paths through experience and qualifications.

 
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Why This Format Works

  • Two-column body separates career evidence from shorter skills and credential sections.
  • Header treatment identifies the applicant without interrupting the main experience sequence.
  • Section separation helps recruiters move between achievements and supporting qualifications.

Best For

  • Markets where resume photos are customary
  • International applications allowing personal photos
  • Senior resumes needing strong header identity
  • Readers who want grouped supporting details
  • Career histories with substantial executive experience
 

#6 Colored Two Column Format Resume Example

A colored two-column design uses visual contrast to help recruiters distinguish major resume sections while keeping the leadership record easy to follow.

 
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Why This Format Works

  • Color contrast marks section boundaries without changing the underlying reading order.
  • Two-column organization keeps supporting qualifications separate from core experience.
  • Distinct blocks make achievements, education, and credentials easier to locate.

Best For

  • Readers who benefit from stronger section cues
  • Executive resumes with several content categories
  • Applications allowing restrained visual color
  • Quick comparison of experience and credentials
  • Professionals wanting modern visual separation
 

#7 Stylish Two Column Designer Format Resume Example

A stylish two-column designer layout gives recruiters clear section separation while presenting a more expressive visual structure for the same resume content.

 
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Why This Format Works

  • Defined columns separate the career narrative from supporting resume details.
  • Stronger visual styling makes section changes easy to notice during scanning.
  • Grouped content helps achievements and credentials stay distinct without mixing.

Best For

  • Applications where visual polish is welcome
  • Senior resumes with varied supporting sections
  • Readers scanning several information groups
  • Professionals seeking a more expressive layout
  • Career stories needing clear section distinction
 
 

Why Build Your Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts Resume with ResumeInMinutes

ResumeInMinutes helps senior fundraising professionals turn complex advancement work into a structured resume that is easier to read, tailor, and compare across formats.

  • Executive resume formats
  • ATS-friendly section structure
  • Principal gifts keyword guidance
  • Organized leadership and achievement sections
  • Free PDF resume previews
  • Resume customization support

You can use these structures to present principal gift strategy, campaign leadership, donor stewardship, executive partnerships, and team coaching with a clear hierarchy that supports fast review.

 

See Also

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts resume templates ATS-friendly?

Yes. The layouts use clear headings and familiar resume sections. Keep important terms such as principal gifts, capital campaigns, stewardship, executive advising, and portfolio strategy in plain text so ATS systems can read them.

Are these different resumes?

No. This guide shows one complete Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts resume in different visual layouts so you can compare structure and presentation.

What should an Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts resume include?

Include an executive summary, progressive fundraising experience, major achievements, principal gift strategy, campaign leadership, donor stewardship, staff coaching, education, certifications, systems knowledge, and relevant professional affiliations.

Can I download the resume templates as PDFs?

Yes. Each resume design includes a free PDF preview so you can review the layout before choosing a format.

Which resume style works well for senior principal gifts leadership?

Choose a format that keeps career progression and achievements easy to follow. One-column layouts favor a direct reading path, while well-structured two-column layouts can separate supporting skills and credentials from core experience.

How should I show seven- and eight-figure gift experience?

State the scope clearly and connect it to your role in strategy, cultivation, negotiation, closing, stewardship, or executive engagement. Use specific figures only when they are accurate and approved for disclosure.

Should I include a photo on my resume?

For U.S. applications, a no-photo resume is usually the safer choice. Use a photo only when it is normal and appropriate for the country or application context.

Can I customize these resume templates?

Yes. You can adjust text, sections, and layout while keeping the same core evidence focused on principal gifts leadership and academic health advancement.

ATS score and resume checks

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ATS score 73%

How we calculate this score

  • Keywords: 60% of the total. AI extracts keywords from your job description. If you do not provide one, a standard job description for the title matching your resume is used. This is not a match to a specific vacancy.
  • Text-based resume: 20%. The text resume assessed here receives 100 for this part.
  • Resume quality: 20%. We start at 100 and subtract points for issues found by our resume checks, down to a minimum of zero.
  • Keyword coverage = 100 × (confirmed matches + 0.8 × possible matches) ÷ total keywords, rounded and capped at 100. Possible matches still need checking. Saved generation audits use their saved keyword percentage.
  • Final score = 60% of keyword coverage + 20% of the text score + 20% of the quality score, rounded to a whole number. Without keywords, no overall ATS score is available.

What this score means

Our scores are estimates, not employer ratings. They may contain errors and do not guarantee accurate parsing, a ranking, an interview, or a job. Check your document against the employer’s requirements. You are responsible for relying on this score.

Terms and Conditions

Score weights: Keywords 60% · Text based resume 20% · Resume quality 20%

Live keyword match: 50 of 91 (55%) · Resume quality: 100%

Resume quality 100% · Weight 20% · Issues (0)

Details
  • ✓Name present: Aria Heath
  • ✓Email format: aria.heath@example.com
  • ✓Phone format: 608-555-1842
  • ✓Experience 1: Job title: Vice President, Principal and Transformational Giving
  • ✓Experience 1: Company name: Lakeshore Medical University Foundation
  • ✓Experience 1: Employment dates: January 2022 - Present
  • ✓Experience 1: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓Experience 2: Job title: Executive Director, Principal Gifts
  • ✓Experience 2: Company name: Great Plains University Advancement
  • ✓Experience 2: Employment dates: July 2017 - December 2021
  • ✓Experience 2: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓Experience 3: Job title: Senior Director, Major and Principal Gifts
  • ✓Experience 3: Company name: Heartland Health Sciences Foundation
  • ✓Experience 3: Employment dates: June 2013 - June 2017
  • ✓Experience 3: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓Experience 4: Job title: Director of Development
  • ✓Experience 4: Company name: Midwest College Foundation
  • ✓Experience 4: Employment dates: June 2009 - May 2013
  • ✓Experience 4: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓No placeholder fields
  • ✓No repeated achievement bullets
  • ✓No empty bullets

No issues found by the current checks.

Text Based Resume 100% · Weight 20%

Parsed text
Aria Heath
Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts
608-555-1842
aria.heath@example.com
linkedin.com/example/ariaheath
Madison, WI 53703
STRENGTHS
Principal Gift Strategy
Connected donor interests with research, care, and education priorities, giving senior leaders a clear path forward.
Executive Partnership
Prepared executives and clinicians for important donor conversations, and became a trusted sounding board before visits.
Gift Negotiation
Handled sophisticated commitments with patience and clear listening, helping donors and institutions reach sound agreements.
Team Coaching
Coached colleagues through difficult prospect moments, sharing practical guidance that made complex work feel manageable.
Stewardship
Kept donors connected after closing through relevant updates, personal follow up, and visible institutional progress.
SUMMARY
Principal gifts executive with more than 17 years of progressive fundraising experience across academic medicine, higher education, and complex nonprofit advancement. Built transformational gift strategies, closed multiple seven and eight figure commitments, and connected research, patient care, medical education, innovation, and entrepreneurship with compelling philanthropic opportunities. Trusted advisor to senior leaders, faculty, clinicians, volunteers, donors, alumni, and advancement colleagues, with experience directing principal gift portfolios, capital campaign strategy, prospect coordination, stewardship, and program evaluation. Leads with careful listening, sound judgment, clear communication, and practical coaching. Uses databases, spreadsheets, web applications, and complex information systems to guide portfolio decisions and performance review. Brings credibility in confidential donor relationships, sophisticated negotiations, executive engagement, and staff leadership, helping mission driven institutions secure lasting philanthropic support.
EXPERIENCE
Vice President, Principal and Transformational Giving
Lakeshore Medical University Foundation
January 2022 - Present
Milwaukee, WI
Lead principal and transformational giving across academic medicine, partnering with executives, faculty, clinicians, volunteers, and advancement colleagues. Direct sophisticated prospect strategy, capital priorities, donor engagement, stewardship, staff coaching, and performance review while protecting confidential information and connecting philanthropy with research, patient care, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Built seven and eight figure gift strategies linking donor interests with research and patient care priorities.
Advised executives and clinicians before donor meetings, giving each conversation a clear philanthropic purpose.
Coached principal gifts staff through qualification, cultivation, negotiation, and closing of complex commitments.
Used database and spreadsheet analysis to refine portfolios, benchmarks, forecasts, and prospect movement.
Coordinated affiliated advancement teams around campaign priorities, communications, stewardship, and senior volunteer engagement.
Prepared confidential briefings that helped leaders make timely decisions during sensitive negotiations.
Executive Director, Principal Gifts
Great Plains University Advancement
July 2017 - December 2021
Des Moines, IA
Directed principal gifts and capital campaign work for a comprehensive university advancement program. Managed high value portfolios, executive and volunteer partnerships, prospect coordination, stewardship, proposal development, and gift negotiations, translating institutional priorities into persuasive opportunities for regional and national philanthropists.
Led capital campaign portfolio reviews that clarified next actions for senior officers and volunteers.
Closed sophisticated principal gifts by matching donor priorities with university research and education initiatives.
Coached colleagues on discovery questions, listening, proposal framing, negotiation, and donor follow through.
Created executive briefings that connected prospect history, capacity, relationships, and institutional priorities.
Strengthened stewardship plans through coordinated updates, faculty engagement, and meaningful donor recognition.
Organized cross team prospect reviews that improved accountability across affiliated advancement operations.
Senior Director, Major and Principal Gifts
Heartland Health Sciences Foundation
June 2013 - June 2017
Omaha, NE
Managed major and principal gift portfolios supporting health sciences research, clinical care, and medical education. Partnered with researchers, clinicians, administrators, alumni, donors, and volunteers to shape gift concepts, cultivate relationships, secure commitments, and sustain thoughtful stewardship.
Developed gift concepts connecting philanthropic interests with clinical care, research, and medical education.
Guided faculty and clinicians through donor conversations that turned technical priorities into clear human impact.
Negotiated complex commitments with donors, advisors, executives, and institutional counsel during campaign planning.
Maintained disciplined portfolio records using advancement databases, spreadsheets, and information systems.
Produced persuasive proposals and briefing materials for regional and national philanthropists.
Built stewardship touchpoints that kept donors connected with outcomes after major commitments closed.
Director of Development
Midwest College Foundation
June 2009 - May 2013
Cedar Rapids, IA
Directed development activity for a higher education foundation, managing major gifts, alumni engagement, advancement databases, proposals, and stewardship. Built relationships with alumni, volunteers, faculty, administrators, and donors while strengthening organized prospect movement and clear written communication.
Expanded major gift conversations through alumni research, thoughtful outreach, and focused qualification.
Prepared donor proposals that connected college priorities with personal interests and community needs.
Improved database documentation so advancement colleagues could act on current relationship information.
Coordinated faculty and volunteer participation during cultivation visits and stewardship events.
Created concise briefing materials for leaders preparing for donor meetings and solicitations.
Strengthened alumni engagement by pairing meaningful updates with timely opportunities for involvement.
SKILLS
Prospect strategy
Capital campaigns
Gift solicitation
Executive advising
Transformational philanthropy
Written communication
Fundraising databases
Spreadsheet analysis
Academic medicine
Portfolio analysis
Principal gifts
Donor stewardship
Donor cultivation
Gift negotiation
Staff coaching
LANGUAGES
English
Native
Spanish
Intermediate
MY CAREER
17Years
Vice President, Principal and Transformational Giving at Lakeshore Medical University Foundation (4.7 Years)
Executive Director, Principal Gifts at Great Plains University Advancement (4.4 Years)
Senior Director, Major and Principal Gifts at Heartland Health Sciences Foundation (4 Years)
Director of Development at Midwest College Foundation (3.9 Years)
PROJECTS
Academic Medicine Transformational Giving Initiative
2024
Coordinated executives, clinicians, researchers, and advancement colleagues around a transformational giving initiative. Shared donor insight across teams, shaped opportunities around patient care and innovation, and supported thoughtful stewardship after commitments were secured.
Capital Campaign Principal Gifts Portfolio
2020
Partnered with senior officers, volunteers, faculty, and donors during a capital campaign portfolio effort. Clarified prospect strategy, prepared executive conversations, and helped move sophisticated opportunities from cultivation through negotiation and close.
LEADERSHIP & AWARDS
Recognized for closing multiple seven and eight figure philanthropic commitments across academic medicine and higher education.
Selected to advise senior executives, faculty, clinicians, volunteers, and advancement colleagues on complex principal gift strategy.
Promoted through progressive fundraising leadership roles spanning development, health sciences, university advancement, and transformational giving.
EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration
University of Wisconsin Madison
GPA: 4.0
2009
Madison, WI
Coursework: Nonprofit leadership, public finance, organizational strategy, program evaluation
Bachelor's Degree in Communication
University of Iowa
GPA: 4.0
2007
Iowa City, IA
Coursework: Persuasive communication, organizational communication, research methods, professional writing
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Fund Raising Executive
2012
Advanced Fundraising Leadership Certificate
2024
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Fundraising Systems: Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, advancement databases
Spreadsheet Applications: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, pivot tables
Web Applications: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, web portals
Campaign Management: Capital campaigns, campaign planning, campaign benchmarks
Prospect Research: Prospect screening, capacity analysis, relationship mapping
Gift Administration: Gift agreements, commitment documentation, gift compliance
Donor Communications: Proposal writing, briefing materials, stewardship reports
Academic Medicine: Research philanthropy, patient care, medical education
Leadership Practice: Executive advising, staff coaching, volunteer engagement
Project Management: Milestone planning, stakeholder coordination, performance evaluation
Relationship Management: Face to face visits, cultivation, solicitation
Information Management: Confidential records, portfolio reporting, data governance
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Council for Advancement and Support of Education, professional member focused on higher education advancement.
Association of Fundraising Professionals, professional member supporting ethical fundraising and nonprofit leadership.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Work Status
: Authorized to work in United States. No sponsorship required.

Matched keywords (50)

  • Principal Gifts
  • Health Sciences
  • complex commitments
  • benchmarks
  • performance evaluation
  • systems
  • communication
  • Stewardship
  • principal gifts staff
  • affiliated advancement teams
  • Face to face visits
  • cultivate
  • national philanthropists
  • research
  • patient care
  • medical education
  • innovation
  • entrepreneurship
  • senior officers
  • faculty
  • researchers
  • clinicians
  • administrators
  • alumni
  • volunteers
  • donor
  • advancement colleagues
  • confidential information
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • senior leaders
  • Project Management
  • Negotiation
  • listening
  • databases
  • Spreadsheet
  • web applications
  • complex information systems
  • Capital campaigns
  • higher education
  • transformational gift strategies
  • executive engagement
  • Staff coaching
  • Persuasive communication
  • multiple seven and eight figure commitments
  • capital campaign strategy
  • prospect coordination
  • program evaluation
  • clinical care
  • education priorities
  • donor relationships

Missing keywords (41)

  • Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts
  • academic medical
  • $5 million or more
  • long range strategy
  • executive leadership
  • policies
  • prospect pipelines
  • coach colleagues
  • principal gift prospects
  • fundraising goals
  • solicit
  • negotiate
  • close sophisticated gifts
  • high net worth philanthropists
  • regional philanthropists
  • unaffiliated donors
  • discretion
  • 15 years
  • complex fundraising
  • creative gift strategy
  • influence based coaching
  • excellent oral communication
  • excellent written communication
  • organization
  • collaboration
  • prioritization
  • Master's degree
  • seven figure closes
  • eight figure closes
  • principal gifts program management
  • college fundraising
  • university fundraising
  • medical center fundraising
  • nonprofit writing
  • academic medicine philanthropy
  • portfolio strategy
  • database informed portfolio analysis
  • donor partnerships
  • research priorities
  • gift proposals
  • gift stewardship
Disclaimer: All names, images, contact information, employment histories, achievements, security clearances, military credentials, and other qualifications shown in this content are fictional and used for illustrative purposes only. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

Resume and cover-letter examples and recommendations in this article reflect general best practices and professional experience and are provided for guidance only. Results may vary based on role, industry, region, and hiring organization.

Content Accuracy and Verification: To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we do not represent or warrant that resume or cover-letter guidance, examples, recommendations, or related information are accurate, complete, current, error-free, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for independently reviewing and verifying the information before relying on it.

ATS and Cover-Letter Scores: ATS scores are estimates calculated using our own formula, informed by publicly available guidance on resume formatting and keyword matching. They are not scores issued or endorsed by an ATS provider or employer. Cover-letter scores are also our own assessments. Parsing, weighting, screening criteria, and results vary between systems, employers, job descriptions, and document formats. No score guarantees successful parsing, a particular ranking, an interview, or employment. Use scores as general guidance and independently check your documents against the employer’s requirements. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we accept no liability for errors in scores or parsing, or losses arising from reliance on these assessments. Nothing in this notice excludes liability or limits consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

Terms and Conditions
 
 
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