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Is Now a Good Time to Look for a Nonprofit Job?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:00:23 +0000

We've noted before that the job market in the nonprofit world is reviving. Now, the Foundation Center has reported that more jobs are being posted to its job boards at the Philanthropy News Digest (PND):

"On a year-over-year basis, job postings here at PND were flat in September and October, down in November, and then up smartly in December and January. (And we're seeing a continuation of the recent trend in February.) For the year, job postings to the board were up 2 percent over 2010 and 36 percent over 2009 (though still well below the number posted in 2007)."

The nonprofit sector has shown more life throughout the recession than other parts of the economy, so now might be a good time to launch your surf board into the rising wave and look for a nonprofit job or the opportunity to move up to a better one.

Here are some tips for those who want to match their good intentions with a paying job:

How to Find Your Dream Nonprofit Job

Finding Nonprofit Jobs Online

How to Get a Job in Fundraising

What Will You Be Asked at Your Nonprofit Job Interview?

Eight Tips for Jumping Ship: For-Profit to Nonprofit Career

Socially Conscious Job Options

Photo: Getty Images

Great Nonprofit Design from Save the Children

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:05:48 +0000

I'm a sucker for great photos and design. I've started collecting examples of what I consider terrific examples by nonprofits.

This gorgeous photo, that is combined with a wonderful quote from Dr. Seuss, the children's author par excellence, was shared on Facebook by Save the Children. I caught a glimpse of it while surfing FB on my iPad. It stopped me in my tracks.

Save the Children does an outstanding job of creating and using photos of the children it helps in fundraising appeals, on its social networks, and in this selection of e-cards supporters can send for special occasions.

But you certainly do not have to be a big, international charity to use photos effectively. Just check out how this tiny charity did it in a fundraising letter and on its website at very low cost. It's not the sophistication and technique that counts but the heart-felt warmth expressed.

How is your nonprofit sharing its photos and design inspirations? For some ideas, check out these resources:

A Receipt Is Not a Thank You: Online Donors vs Online Buyers

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:00:24 +0000

Last week, Blackbaud released a report about online giving for 2011. It continues to grow...up 13%.

Frank Barry, in a follow-up to the report, pointed out new donor acquisition through online channels is hotter than any other for charities; that online donors give more, on average, than off line donors; and that they represent higher household income than other donors.

So, why do nonprofits not worry about their online thank yous as much as their mailed thank yous? Why do thank you letters seem to warrant time and attention while the attitude toward online thank yous seems so nonchalant? This seems especially odd given that we also know that attrition for first time donors, especially online, is extremely high. Those donors are worth a lot, but only if we keep them.

Why do I even think that there is less concern about thanking online donors? Well, when I look at the stats for my content, I find that my articles about writing thank you letters (as in mailed ones) are some of the most popular content on my site. My material about online thanking barely registers on the meter. I also accumulate a lot of online thank yous because that is my preferred way of donating. They are not very good.

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A Receipt Is Not a Thank You: Online Donors vs Online Buyers originally appeared on About.com Nonprofit Charitable Orgs on Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 01:00:24.

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Causes. Caring, and Community -- Plus Kermit

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:05:09 +0000

As Kermit has repeatedly said, "It isn't easy being green." But Miss Piggy and the other Muppets help, forming a supportive circle a lot like nonprofit communities.

Actually, I was green once. I worked for a local affiliate of the Girl Scouts. I'll never forget my dismay when I learned that I had to get a uniform...and wear it at official functions.

Believe me, green looks a whole lot better on a cute 12 year-old-girl than on a grown woman under artificial lights.

Besides that, only a short while after I arrived, the cookie hit the fan, so to speak. There was a huge crisis that threatened the cookie sale! At the time, I was still learning the difference between a Thin Mint and a Samoa.

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Causes. Caring, and Community -- Plus Kermit originally appeared on About.com Nonprofit Charitable Orgs on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 01:05:09.

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Government Grants for Nonprofits Require Many First Steps

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:40:41 +0000

Just as fundraisers need to take many steps to land a donor, nonprofits need to go through many growing phases before they can even think about tapping into state or federal funding.

Guest writer Heather Stombaugh of JustWrite Solutions has guided many nonprofits up that ladder of success and knows just what it takes to apply for government grants.

Heather lays it all out in 8 Ways to Make Your Nonprofit Competitive for Government Grants.

Photo: Getty Images

Could Philanthropic Equity Revolutionize the Nonprofit Sector?

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:12:29 +0000

Welcome to guest blogger, Nell Edgington! Nell is the President of Social Velocity, a consulting firm that helps nonprofits grow their capacity and become financially sustainable. When a new report recently appeared about philanthropic equity, I asked Nell to comment and explain what it all means.

There is a fairly new concept in the nonprofit world that has the power to completely transform the sector. "Philanthropic equity" (or "growth capital") is just a fancy term for the money many nonprofit organizations desperately need.

Philanthropic equity is a one-time infusion of significant money that can be used to strengthen or grow a nonprofit organization. It can be money that grows a successful program to other clients, other cities, other regions. Or it can be money that strengthens the organization and makes it more sustainable.

But before you can understand philanthropic equity properly, you must understand a critical distinction about money. There are two kinds of money.

Revenue is the day-to-day money required to run programs. For a homeless shelter, revenue buys meals, beds, sheets, job training programs, staff time.
Capital is the one-time infusion of money that builds or grows an organization. Again for a homeless shelter, capital could purchase a better system for gathering data on clients, a donor database, a Development Director.

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Could Philanthropic Equity Revolutionize the Nonprofit Sector? originally appeared on About.com Nonprofit Charitable Orgs on Monday, February 13th, 2012 at 01:12:29.

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Join Me in Rebooting Valentine's Day

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:33:58 +0000

A movement is afoot to remake our favorite holiday into Generosity Day. I'm all for it! Forget the chocolates and roses and just pledge to be generous of heart and help out others for that one day. You can pledge, tell everyone what you plan to do and share with your friends. The cute video with its happy melody is bound to get you in the mood.

I said yes to being the secretary for my neighborhood book club. I'm sending notices and reminders and taking notes about the books we'll be reading. Sweetly enough, this month we meet on Valentine's Day. How cool!

Join me and say yes. Get Generous here.

Best Links: SEO, DoGooder Video, Thanking Online Donors

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:05:20 +0000

Opportunities

Nonprofits are proving themselves every proficient at producing videos to promote their causes. It's no wonder. People generally love videos, they are the perfect medium to tell your cause's story in a heart warming, visual way, and it no longer costs an arm and a leg to produce one. The doGooder Nonprofit Video Awards is a way to test your best against the best in the field and win some cool rewards. John Haydon has written a nice announcement of the awards replete with a video and links to more information. Catch the doGooder video fever now - entries are being accepted through February.

You can't do good nonprofit marketing if you're in a silo. That's the messge Kivi Leroux Miller will be driving home in one of her only-once-in-a-while FREE webinars. Helping Your Staff and Board Become Great Nonprofit Marketers is on Feb 16th, so rush over and register now. Kivi says, "...stop daydreaming and start working with what you have right in front of you...learn how to turn the people already associated with your organization into a marketing team (whether they know it or not!)."

Marc Pitman has kicked off the February Nonprofit Blog Carnival with his Valentine's Day themed How do you take care of yourself? Marc asks, "We often focus on letting donors know we love them, but how do you show yourself the love?" So get those hearts for yourself going and let Marc know about them. Participating in a Carnival is an excellent way to extend your blog's reach. Another link, more readers, an enhanced reputation and maybe your Klout score will even go up!

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Best Links: SEO, DoGooder Video, Thanking Online Donors originally appeared on About.com Nonprofit Charitable Orgs on Sunday, February 12th, 2012 at 01:05:20.

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New Books Bring Nonprofit Finance and Legal Issues Within Reach

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:00:13 +0000

If you're anything like me, a financial statement or a contract makes you feel like your spaceship just got sucked into a black hole.

But as board members or nonprofit staff, we have to make an effort to understand what amounts to the corporate law and finance that undergird our organizations.

That's why I was very happy to see two books land on my review pile in recent weeks. They are Good Counsel: Meeting the Legal needs of Nonprofits, by Lesley Rosenthal and The Board Member's Easier Than You Think Guide to Nonprofit Finances, by Any Robinson and Nancy Wasserman.

These two books have taken their places on my bookshelf along with a few others that address the necessary but sometimes tough issues that face all of us who work with nonprofits, whether we are a board member or a CEO.

You can see what these books offer in my reviews: Put a Nonprofit Lawyer On Your Bookshelf and Board Members and Financial Conflicts of Interest - 6 Ways to Stay out of Trouble.

By the way, the publishers of these useful books are Wiley and Emerson & Church. You probably have many of their books on your shelves simply because they specialize in easy-to-read guides on difficult subjects in nonprofit.

More books that transform tough subjects:

Nonprofits Urge Adopt or Sponsor a Pet for Valentine's Day

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:23 +0000

I can't think of a better way to serve up a Valentine's Day scoop of love than to adopt or sponsor a pet.

My long time favorite animal sanctuary, Best Friends, is sending a very cute email to its supporters suggesting sponsoring either Jack, "a pig with a plan," or Nito, a shy dog who loves the ladies. It's all in the name of creatively expressing your heart for Valentine's Day.

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Nonprofits Urge Adopt or Sponsor a Pet for Valentine's Day originally appeared on About.com Nonprofit Charitable Orgs on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 at 01:00:23.

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