Advancing business and marketing skills for a nonprofit career

Written by: Susan Maphis, Edited by: Jenny Kiesewetter

Published: April 23, 2025

Succeeding in a nonprofit career requires a passion for the cause, an understanding of the organization's mission, and excellent communication skills. It also depends heavily on proficiency in business and marketing skills.

Discover which marketing and business skills are necessary to succeed in a nonprofit career and find out what a daily routine may look like for a professional in the industry.

What business and marketing skills are needed to advance a nonprofit career?

Here are some essential business and marketing skills needed to advance a nonprofit career:

Fundraising: Identifying potential donors, forming relationships with them, and securing funding
Communication: Working effectively with diverse teams in various departments to achieve goals
Financial management: Tracking the usage of funds and demonstrating the use of contributions in an organized, transparent manner
Strategic planning: Developing and implementing business and marketing strategies that help the organization achieve its mission
Leadership: Making informed choices, inspiring and motivating teams to achieve goals
Creativity: Creating innovative marketing campaigns that stand out and attract attention
Relationship-building: Building and sustaining relationships with donors, community partners, and volunteers
Social media expertise: Using social media platforms to reach a wide audience and engage with contributors
Board management: Working effectively with a board of directors to keep the organization financially sound and functional
Program management: Overseeing programs, evaluating them via collecting and analyzing data to make sure they are still viable, and coordinating programs to achieve the goals of the organization

What does your daily routine look like in a nonprofit career?

While every nonprofit organization is different, and each nonprofit career is separate from others, they all share the goal of working towards achieving the organization's mission. A typical day in a nonprofit career involves using the skills listed above to accomplish the following tasks:

Donor engagement

Reaching out to potential donors, communicating with them and forming relationships, managing existing relationships with donors, reporting on fundraising progress, and effectively using social media platforms to reach potential and current donors

Program coordination

Supervising program activities, coordinating with staff and volunteers, managing programs related to fundraising, and monitoring program effectiveness through collecting and analyzing data

Grant writing

Researching funding opportunities, writing persuasively and clearly, and applying for financial support for the nonprofit organization from organizations or individuals

Community outreach

Attending community events, developing relationships with local organizations, and promoting the nonprofit organization's services and mission

Marketing and communications

Using creativity to produce content for social media, develop marketing materials, manage the nonprofit organization's website, and engage with the public

Meetings and collaborations

Attending team meetings to discuss programs, fundraising plans, and strategic planning; meeting with stakeholders; and collaborating with colleagues from other departments and organizations

Administrative tasks

Managing budgets, preparing financial reports for the board of directors, updating internal documentation, and handling other administrative tasks as needed

Get started with online programs on edX

Courses and programs on edX can help you advance your business and marketing skills for a nonprofit career. Sign up for online courses or consider pursuing an online master's degree in marketing or business.

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Frequently asked questions about skills needed for nonprofit careers

What are the top marketing skills I need for a nonprofit career?

Marketing skills that can benefit a nonprofit career include communication, social media expertise, project management, creativity, and relationship building. These skills can help you communicate a nonprofit organization's mission, raise awareness about its cause, attract potential donors and volunteers, build strong community relationships, and reach a wider audience to secure funding.

What are the top business skills I need for a nonprofit career?

Fundraising skills, financial management, strategic planning, leadership, and board management are business skills vital to a nonprofit career. These skills enable you to secure necessary funding, demonstrate how those funds are used, develop strategies for success, inspire and motivate others, and work as a team to keep the organization afloat.

How do I learn the necessary skills needed for a nonprofit career?

Online courses and degrees on edX can help you learn the marketing and business skills necessary to succeed in a nonprofit career. Consider digital marketing, financial management, or strategic thinking courses to help you achieve your goals.

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