Monthly Archives: January 2010

When it Comes to Executive Pay, Numbers Arent Enough


Posted by ajlovesya

While much of the conversation about nonprofit pay focuses on how we are not paid enough given the work we do, every now and then someone will attract the wrath of the public for having what is considered a salary that is too high.  Honestly, I generally don’t share the indignation because there is never any context given to the numbers.   There are a few questions I think we should answer when deciding whether or not pay is excessive:

  1. What percentage does this take of the organization’s budget? We accept that, as a rule, the larger the organization, the larger the salary but have we come up with a percentage that shows once executive pay reaches this point it can have negative consequences on the organization?
  2. What is the overall financial health of the organization? Connected to the first question, have we established processes to determine whether the pay makes sense given how well the organization is doing and that nothing is being done inappropriately?
  3. What is the treatment of other employees? The argument that high salaries and benefits should only be given to executives doesn’t sit well with me.  Talent is needed at all levels, so in order to recruit and retain the best throughout the organization, everyone should be paid well.
  4. And of course, the biggest and kind of silly question that I like to ask: what’s the organization’s impact on the community it serves?  If they are doing what they set out to do, what’s the concern?

Without context, we can’t develop methods to defining and providing a competitive yet fair salary.  It becomes arbitrary and reveals more about how we expect nonprofiteers to only be in it for the love of social change without accepting that social change requires excellence, competence, and tenacity, not just warm feelings or sweet ideas.

We’ve done a great deal of comparing and measuring when it comes to classifying nonprofit pay as being too little. Why haven’t we done the same when determining whether it is too much (especially when, to be frank, it’s RARE.  High salaries are the exception, not the norm).

The outrage concerns me because it extends beyond the executive in question.  People begin to demand that the entire sector be checked and begin to doubt whether their donations are making a difference.  Feelings of mistrust, however misguided, fester because an explanation of the pay and and more rigorous debate of our expectations of nonprofits do not occur.

How do you determine whether or not pay is excessive?


Open Thread: Helping Haiti


Posted by ajlovesya

I’ve spent most of the day sharing relief events and opportunities in NYC using the hashtag #HelpHaitiNYC and encouraging others to do the same in their cities.  So far #HelpHaitiDC and #HelpHaitiPhilly have events and I hope other cities follow and continue adding as Haiti heals and rebuilds. In general, money is preferred as it is really hard to sort and distribute goods with the roads being in such disarray. And if you are thinking of getting a plan and going to Haiti DONT.  I know we all want to help any way  that we can, but a big part of public service is listening to the needs of those we intend to help.  And if the need is for cash, try your best to oblige, if not by giving yourself than by encouraging others.  Attend a fundraiser or donate via text message.

I have many friends from Haiti and throughout college, as I explored issues of race, identity, and community, Haiti featured prominently.  It was part of my self discovery as I learned about the black diaspora, my history, and my role in this world.  And I, like many others, stopped thinking about the country once I got what I needed.   So now, I’m looking at Haiti not  as a charity case, but as a warning that natural disasters do not just affect those directly involved and expose lingering inequalities that were ignored.

If you want to share stories, information, events, news or photos, please feel free to share them here.  What are your experiences and thoughts?  Members of the Nonprofit Millenial Bloggers Alliance have been tackling how to help Haiti:

Longterm Help for Haiti by @terawozqualls

Haiti: Lessons in racialized language by @telleni

One-off or a way of life? How do we continue giving after the earthquake in Haiti? by @eclawson

Lessons from Haiti: Mobile Giving in 2010 by @cdilly

Haiti: Trying to comprehend by @laurenabele

4 Lies People Tell Themselves About Philanthropy (Why You Shouldn’t Send Canned Goods to Haiti) by @@rosettathurman


When Going Viral is a Waste: Learning from Facebook Bra Colors


Posted by ajlovesya

Going viral is the dream of anyone trying to spread a message.  It means people are listening and willing to participate in whatever meme is making the rounds.   For those in the business of social change, there is enormous potential to raise awareness, money, and inspire people to take action with some of the most successful social change campaigns like #beatcancer going viral.

We could have had another great social change meme on Thursday if it wasn’t such an epic fail.

On Thursday many women got the following message on Facebook:

“Some fun is going on….just write the colour of your bra in your status..just the colour, nothing else, and send this on to ONLY girls no men… it will be neat to see if this will spread the wings of cancer awareness. It will be fun to see how long it takes before the men will wonder why all the girls have a color in their status…thanks ladies!”

I waited two days to write this post because I thought there had to be more.

Why did this message go viral?

I’m inclined to believe it is because of the ease of engagement (posting a word),  the game aspect of it (see what the men say) and innocent sexual content (bra color).  And the breast cancer bit allows the meme to go beyond being seen as immature and frivolous to garnering support for an important cause.

Why did it fail?

This is the drive by social change attempts that reminds me of the iParticipate campaign back in October, where nonprofits were featured in TV shows.  In an episode of Parks and Recreation, for example, KaBoom! was featured as a fake organization, with a cast member at the end of the show making a PSA that KaBoom was real and that you should check out their website.  Really?  And I didnt hear anything about this campaign until after the shows aired.

Well it’s no surprise that the campaign wasn’t successful.

We have a similar situation here.  Cloaked in a joke with no information or call to action we’re left with campaign that confused more than it inspired.  The message was changed throughout the day with some people being told to examine their breasts (yet no instructions as to how) and others being told to share the color of their panties with no mention of cancer at all.  And the vagueness of meme leaves it open to way too much interpretation for it to be taken seriously.

What can we learn?

On a positive note, support for a cause does not need to come from an organization.  An individual can create a viral message for an important issue from an organic interest in that issue.  This is the best kind of engagement as it doesn’t need prodding or the watchful marketing eye of an organization to have impact.  “Viral” is really the desire of people to share information they like without any outside encouragement.

Yet that’s where I think the positives end.  The lack of information (who started this?  To support whom?  Why is this important?  Is there a website/twitter handle/facebook page?) and direction (How should I check my breasts? NOTE: A breast exam requires more than just looking at yourself!   How do I respond to questions about my status?)  sparked more confusion than awareness and at the end of the day it was dismissed.   More information would’ve allowed people who didn’t want to participate in the meme to still join the conversation and encourage people to move beyond the meme itself.

But I’m still waiting for the next viral social change campaign.  There is no formula to going viral but we can learn from other’s mistakes and push forward.


7 Ways to Jumpstart Your Nonprofit Career in 2010


Posted by ajlovesya

Happy New Year everyone!

New year’s is a time for reflection and promises. If you are interested in a career in the nonprofit sector, consider the following tips that will help you figure out your interests and skills.

1.  Reflect on 2009: Before you make plans to reinvent yourself, reflect on your accomplishments and struggles of 2009. What went well? What would you have changed? Why? How? What projects or opportunities presented themselves that you would like to pursue? What three steps do you need to take to work on those projects?

2.  Expand your skill set: What I love the most about the nonprofit sector is its diversity. There really is space for everyone, yet it takes time to discover what you enjoy professionally. You can expose yourself to different career paths and professions in the following ways:

  • Join a board: Whether it is a young professionals board, a governing or advisory board, board membership allows you to develop new connections and expose you to a different side of nonprofits. Depending on the size, type, and age of the board you can get hands on experience in everything including management, fundraising, marketing, and networking.  I found my board opportunity on BoardNet.
  • Volunteer: Is there a cause you want to explore or a type of job you are interested in? Consider volunteering your time in a skilled-service position. Idealist.org is a great place to start searching and if you are tech/web minded, Designism Connects allows you to create a profile and volunteer with nonprofits who post their needs on the website. Also feel free to reach out to organizations you like and offer to volunteer so you can gain some experience in the field.
  • Learn someone else’s job: This is how I got into development work: I walked over to the development office and asked them what the heck they were doing? They were always asking me (a program manager) for pictures, stories, and stats so I wanted to learn more about what they did with them, and how I could help. Take a similar approach. Consider the various positions are your current org, chat with someone in that position, and offer to help.
  • Take a class: Introductory classes in finance, project management, fundraising, and other areas can give you the theory and framework to guide your work. Also, check out certificate programs in leadership and fundraising for comprehensive understanding of those areas. I got a certificate in nonprofit fundraising from LaSalle University in Philadelphia and still use the materials and apply much of what I learned to my job.

3.  Jump into social media: While much of what I have written about social media focuses on actively building your reputation, social media is also a great way to learn about the sector. You can stay up to date on job opportunities, events, conversations and connections. Check out these organizations on twitter and social change resources for social change job seekers.

4.  Get a side project: Your job wont be the only place where you can grow professionally. Working on side projects—paid or unpaid—that you design and control gives you the freedom to pursue what you love. Whether you start a blog, do some consulting, get a group of your friends together to mentor on a regular basis, have an independent project that you are coordinating and leading .

5.  Develop your network: Meet people on and off line. While dwelling online it is easy to think the whole world is there tweeting and facebooking with you. No, they aren’t and the ones who are, you probably don’t know many of them. So attend conferences, meetups, or other events. If people are near you, ask to meet up for coffee or schedule your own gathering.

6.  Step out of the sector: Social change is not limited to people in nonprofits and working at a nonprofit, I’ve been amazed at the different people and organizations that come together to make a difference. Consider engaging your local chamber of commerce to learn about businesses in the area, or look at the businesses, business people, and government agencies that serve nonprofits you like and connect with them by reading about their missions, interests, resources, and possible connections.

7.  Read! You should be aware of best practices, trends, ideas, and controversy happening in your cause and in the sector in general. Staying abreast of what’s happening with your cause, the sector, and your peers will better inform your work. Look at nonprofit.alltop.com for some leading blogs and thinkers in the field. And as much I love the internet, nothing replaces curling up with a good book. Hit up your local library and browse or look at the curriculum for interesting classes at local colleges and read the books listed.

The emphasis when trying to develop your career is learning. Keeping your mind and opportunities open while pushing yourself gives you room to grow.

Like this post? Check out these other posts for professional development in the nonprofit sector.

Social media resources for the young social change job seeker in NYC

5 Nonprofit Career Exploration Tips for College Students

Getting a Good Start at a Nonprofit

Organizations say you need to have passion.  But what does passion look like?

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